Atiku Proposes Six-Year Single Term for President in Letter to National Assembly

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seeks constitutional changes for a six-year presidential term and governance reforms

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has formally requested the National Assembly to consider amending the Nigerian Constitution to establish a six-year single term for the President and state governors. In a memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, Atiku also advocated for the rotation of the presidency between the North and South.

Atiku’s proposal recalls earlier efforts by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also pushed for a six-year single term during his administration. In Atiku’s recent submission, he emphasized that this change would promote national unity and reduce the disruptive nature of the current two-term electoral system.

Atiku proposed amending Section 135(2) of the Constitution to reflect the single-term limit, stating:
“The President shall vacate office at the end of a six-year term without the possibility of re-election.”

Additionally, he recommended changes to Section 285(14)(a) by substituting “an aspirant” with “a voter” and advocated for raising the minimum educational qualification for presidential and gubernatorial candidates to an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) instead of the Senior Secondary School Certificate.

In an effort to enhance transparency in the political process, Atiku also proposed that candidates should be required to submit verifiable educational qualifications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Furthermore, the former Vice President urged for reforms to increase the influence of political parties in the selection of candidates, calling for the amendment of Section 65(2)(b) to strengthen the role of party membership in the nomination process.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with its democratic processes, Atiku’s recommendations aim to streamline governance and foster national cohesion. The proposed six-year presidential term is expected to spark debate within both the National Assembly and the wider public.