As the National Assembly begins the review of the 1999 Constitution, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has recommended that the office of the president rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation for a single term of six years, flowing between the north and south.
The former vice president forwarded his proposal to the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin.
The proposals also contained recommendations that bordered on themes such as procedures for the educational qualification of candidate(s) in elections, internal democracy in political parties, and rotation of presidential position among the six geo-political zones of the country.
In a document made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Atiku said Section 135(2) of the constitution should be amended 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.”
In the explanatory note covering the proposals, Atiku said the amendments were aimed at raising the standard of the educational qualification of political office seekers, and an end to violent takeover of political parties, thereby strengthening the internal structure of political parties.
Others are to reduce the tendencies of political parties to breach the constitution, the Electoral Act, rules and guidelines made thereunder, and the constitution of the political party.
He said: “The implication of the above is that political parties are allowed wide latitude to breach the perimeter of laws on elections.
“Such indiscipline by political parties and infidelity to the electoral parameters yield chaos in the system. The above amendments will enthrone the discipline needed in a democracy.”
The former vice president said his recommendations were in areas where there were pitfalls in the subsisting laws regulating elections in Nigeria.
