Yunusa Tanko: Nigeria needs electoral reform, not rotational presidency

Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign council in the 2023 election, says reforming Nigeria’s electoral process is more important now than the proposed single-tenure rotational  presidency.

On June 10, about 35 members of the house of representatives proposed a six-year single term for the president and governors.

The legislators said the bill also proposes rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to “ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states”.

The legislators, under the auspices of “Reformed-minded Legislators”, said both proposals would lead to a reduction in the cost of governance.

Speaking in an interview with NAN, Tanko said the pursuit of rotational presidency can come after electoral reform is achieved.

He added that reforming the electoral process would guarantee the emergence of credible leaders across all levels of government and help deepen democracy.

“These (single tenure of six years and  rotational presidency) are things that will be decided by the Nigerian people when the time comes,” Tanko said.

“They are not things that should be at the front burner of discussions at the moment now.

“This is because what we need actually at the moment is for us to have an electoral reform that would dovetail into credible elections.

“Once we have that, we shall be talking about tenure of office.

“Let us reform the electoral system to make it clean and clear so that we can have credible elections.”

Also speaking, Shettima Yerima, leader of Arewa Consultative youth forum, said rotational presidency and six-year single term are good ideas but not Nigeria’s immediate problems.

He added that rotational presidency might not be consistent with democratic principles.

“It is good; the only problem I have with it is the rotational aspect of it. We must allow it to be democratic,” Yerima said.

“He who has the number should take it, and he who does not produce the number should be patient and wait for his time.

“However, this is not really our problem, but it is good. One term for any leader to rule and get away.”