Regarding his proposal for a single six-year term as president, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential nominee, has drawn criticism from the Labour Party (LP).
During his Monday press conference in Abuja, Atiku offered a number of suggestions he claimed would improve Nigeria’s political institutions and democracy.
He suggested that the requirement to declare a candidate the winner of a presidential election be moved to 50% +1 of the valid votes cast, that electronic voting and the electronic collation of results be made mandatory, and that all litigation resulting from a disputed election be concluded prior to the inauguration of a winner.
UPDATE: Tinubu Asks Atiku To End His Presidential Ambition
Yunusa Tanko, the chief spokesperson for the LP Presidential Campaign Council, responded to Atiku’s call for a constitutional amendment allowing for a single six-year term as president on Monday in an interview with Newsmen.
He warned that the nation would find itself in a position where a ruler could use legal action to crookedly subvert the will of the people and propel himself to power.
Tanko stated that Atiku’s suggestion for election reform is also a good one and added that INEC, the police, and the courts all need to be changed.
He said, “I do not share this idea of a single six-year term in office. I am saying this because we could have a situation where a leader who crookedly subverted the will of the people could manipulate itself into power using court cases.
VIDEO: Tinubu Forged His Academic Certificates To Contest 2023 Election – Atiku
“What if we end up having a tyrant who wants to rule us for six years and we cannot do anything about it simply because the Constitution and other apparatus have made him what he is? But with four years, there is an opportunity to challenge that particular leader, except he is willing to right his wrongs.
“The fact is that the right thing must be done always. No matter how long you try to hide the truth, it will come out one day. People do not believe in this system anymore. That notwithstanding, Atiku has also made a valid point with his recommendation for an electoral reform. The judiciary, police and INEC must also be reformed. These are basic institutions that have already been captured by this particular government.
“You can see what is happening in the Supreme Court where they are already indicting themselves. We are talking about a reputable justice of the apex court, Muhammad Dattijo, making allegations against his institution. That shows we still have judges with a conscience. Above all, we need to look for a way to make INEC truly independent.”
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