The Nation

Confab committee rejects power rotation in constitution

May 13, 2014 9:55 pm

Confab co-chairmen, Idris Kutigi (right) and Bolaji Akinyemi

The National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring on Tuesday rejected the suggestion that rotational presidency and governorship should be enshrined in the constitution.

Co-Chairman of the committee, Hon. Mukaila Muhammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that rather, political parties should include the provision in their constitutions.

“Whereas some people wanted that principle to be enshrined in the constitution of the country but majority of the members felt that it is not an issue for the constitution.

“It was agreed that the principle of rotation should be enshrined in the constitution of the political parties and in the electoral act.

“The issue of rotation of office, some people believed, is going to inhibit the emergence of the best candidate from a place that a particular office is not zoned to.

“We are talking of the future, maybe the next 100 years when the issue of zoning would not be relevant to the lives of the people.

“And that is why we say we should not put it in the constitution,” he said.

Kumaila said with time, every part of the country would feel assured that they had a stake in the nation and therefore, had an equal opportunity to contest and vie for any office.

He, however, said the committee agreed that political parties and the Electoral Act should ensure the participation of youth and women in politics as well as the physically challenged.

“Political parties can devise a system whereby deliberately, these categories of people we call ‘special interest’ will be catered for so that they can also participate in the electoral process.

The co-chairman pointed out that the issue of rotation was majorly, the concern of the political parties and not the electoral act.

“It is their responsibility to come up with provisions that will ensure that they cater for these special interests.

“They should also make sure that offices are zoned in such a way that will engender sense of belonging of every component part of this country.”