Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has submitted recommendations to the National Assembly, urging constitutional amendments that would establish a single six-year term for the president and governors. He also suggested that the presidency rotate between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions.
In his submission to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, Atiku reaffirmed his support for the six-year term, a concept he promoted during his time as vice president under President Olusegun Obasanjo. After the 2023 elections, he reiterated this proposal, advocating that “the presidency should rotate among the six geopolitical zones, with each zone serving a single six-year term.”
Atiku also called for a revision to Section 135(2) of the constitution to ensure the president vacates office after one six-year term. Additionally, he recommended an update to Section 285(14)(a), suggesting that “voter” replace “aspirant” to promote inclusivity in the political process.
He further proposed raising the minimum educational requirement for candidates from the Senior Secondary School Certificate to an Ordinary National Diploma (OND), stressing the need for more qualified candidates. Atiku also recommended that candidates submit verified educational certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), or provide an affidavit in cases where certificates are missing.
In addition, he advocated for political parties to play a stronger role in the selection of candidates by submitting membership lists to INEC ahead of primaries to enhance transparency and strengthen internal democracy.