10th June, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives the auspices of Reformed Minded Lawmakers on Monday said the ongoing review of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution should include an amendment for a single term of six years for the president and governor.
The lawmakers, who are 35 in number made the proposal at a press conference on Monday, June 10, at the National Assembly
Spokesperson of the group, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere said the lawmakers also want the amendment of the constitution to include the conduct of all elections from the local government to the presidency in one day.
This, they argued would not only save costs by reducing the cost of conducting the elections, it will also remove undue influence in the outcome of the elections.
Ugochinyere said that conducting all elections in one day will save costs for the nation, ensure greater participation and guarantee electoral credibility with Nigerians being more vigilant.
In the same vein, the lawmakers advocated for the conclusion of all pre-election matters 30 days before the conduct of an election.
According to them, going ahead with an election when pre-election matters are still in court has not been helpful to the electoral process.
Yet, another proposal was amendment of the constitution to include a rotational presidency with cognisance of the six geopolitical zones and the introduction of two vice presidents to take care of emergencies such as the death of the President.
They are also advocated for 14 days for the electoral umpire to provide certified true copies of electoral documents to candidates who want to file a petition while advocating a one-year jail term for the electoral officer who refuses to provide such documents.
In teh same vein, the lawmakers are also advocating an amendment to the electoral laws to provide 14 years in prison to an electoral officer who failed to transmit election results electronically or result so provided conflict with each other’s.
The lawmakers said: “On governance, we are proposing:
• Constitutional Alteration to provide for the 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.
• To amend section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.
• To amend the Constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the president and governors.
• Amend the Constitution to create the office of two vice presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria. The 1st vice shall be a succession Vice president, while the 2nd Vice president shall be a Minister in charge of the Economy, and both shall be Ministers.
• Constitutional Amendment to provide that the President and the 1st Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (north or south) and the 1st Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated, i.e., V.P. (Succession), V.P. (Administration and Economy)