A spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign council in the 2023 election, Yunusa Tanko says reforming Nigeria’s electoral process is much more important at this time than the proposed single-tenure rotational presidency.
On June 10, nearly 35 members of the Nigerian house of representatives proposed a six-year one term for the president and governors.
The lawmakers stated that the bill also proposes rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to “ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states”.
These parliamentarians, under the aegis of “Reformed-minded Legislators”, said both proposals would engender reduction in the cost of governance.
However, whilst speaking in an interview with NAN, Tanko said that the pursuit of rotational presidency can happen after electoral reform is achieved.
Tanko also said that reforming the electoral process would affirm the emergence of credible leaders across all levels of government and help folster democracy.
“These (single tenure of six years and rotational presidency) are things that will be decided by the Nigerian people when the time comes,” Tanko said.
“They are not things that should be at the front burner of discussions at the moment now.
“This is because what we need actually at the moment is for us to have an electoral reform that would dovetail into credible elections.
“Once we have that, we shall be talking about tenure of office.
“Let us reform the electoral system to make it clean and clear so that we can have credible elections.”
In his own reaction, Shettima Yerima, leader of Arewa Consultative youth forum, said rotational presidency and six-year single term are good ideas but they are not Nigeria’s present problems.
Yerima said that rotational presidency might not be consistent with democratic dogmas.
“It is good; the only problem I have with it is the rotational aspect of it. We must allow it to be democratic,” Yerima said.
“He who has the number should take it, and he who does not produce the number should be patient and wait for his time.
“However, this is not really our problem, but it is good. One term for any leader to rule and get away.”