The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has made some recommendations that would strengthen the nation’s democracy and political institutions.
Speaking during a World Press Conference in Abuja on Monday in reaction to the recent ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2023 presidential poll, Obi recommended a five-year term with a 30-year rotation system.
According to the LP presidential candidate, the five-year single presidential tenure should be for each of the six geopolitical zones in the country.
Obi’s proposal also comes in response to a recent press briefing by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who suggested a constitutional amendment to establish a six-year single term for the President.
The LP flagbearer believed that such an amendment to the constitution would result in a functional and productive framework for Nigeria, including the introduction of a single tenure system.
He said: “I thank (former) Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his position and his commitment to ensuring that things work better from now on in Nigeria, but I disagree slightly.
“I will go for a five-year tenure, which will go for 30 years rotational — for a five-year tenure.”
The former Anambra State Governor further proposed the implementation of a quasi-system that would enable leaders in office to participate in the legislature simultaneously.
Obi also stated that a mechanism for leaders to be answerable to the public through regular question-and-answer sessions should be established.
He added: “And I will still campaign for one thing if we cannot go back to the issue of parliamentary democracy, we must have a quasi-system that will allow our elected leaders, whether prime minister or president, to be able to be part of the legislature, especially to answer the question.
“Maybe a presidential or prime minister question, instead of hiring surrogates. We want to hear from the people we elected now, which is critical. We cannot continue the way we are now, where people have outsourced leadership.”
