Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed a series of amendments to the 1999 Constitution, including the rotation of the presidential power among the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
A statement by his media office said Atiku made the proposals in a memorandum dated August 30 to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
The statement said the memorandum also contains recommendations like procedures for the educational qualification of candidate(s) in elections and internal democracy in political parties.
The presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election seeks the amendment of Section 130 (1) of the constitution to read “the office of the president shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the Federation on a single term of Six Years flowing between the North and South on the single term of Six Years respectively.”
He also wants the amendment of Section 135 (2) of the document to read “subject to the provisions of the subsection (1), the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of Six Years commencing from the date.”
Atiku’s proposals come about four months after some members of the House of Representatives proposed a bill to introduce rotation of the presidency between the North and the South as well as the creation of a second vice president.
The lawmakers, known as “The Reformers” led by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), said the proposals, if adopted, would reduce the cost of governance, among other benefits.
The 2014 National Conference also recommended similar power rotation. It also recommended that the governorship seat should rotate among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states.
The then administration of President Goodluck Jonathan did not implement the conference’s recommendations before it left office.
