Regarding Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, and his proposal for a constitutional amendment to create a six-year single-term rotating presidency, the Coalition of United Political Parties, the Social Democratic Party, and the Nigerian Political Science Association have expressed divergent opinions.

In a letter dated August 29, 2024, the former vice president—who has made six unsuccessful attempts to become the president of Nigeria—proposed a six-year rotating single term. Jibrin Barau is the chair of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

In response to Atiku’s proposal, Mark Adebayo, national spokesperson for the CUPP, concurred that a six-year single term would lessen incumbents’ thirst for a second term at all costs.

Nonetheless, Adebayo stated in a Sunday DAILY PULSE interview that a rotating presidency was unable to solve the grave problems of the nation’s socioeconomic growth gaps or banish corruption from our national landscape.

There are two issues that this amendment can resolve right away, he said. One is that it will put an end to incumbents’ desperate attempts to win a second term. Second, it will deal with the sense of exclusion that certain geopolitical regions of the nation feel.

“A president who is aware that he only has one term in office is more inclined to concentrate on matters of governance rather than partake in immoral activities or abuse state resources and power in an attempt to win reelection.

Furthermore, the agitations associated with marginalisation that we have been seeing in this country will be much reduced, if not eliminated, by a constitutional guarantee that each geopolitical zone can have the opportunity to produce the president. The corporate life of Nigeria has been seriously threatened by this sense of marginalisation.

According to the CUPP representative, constitutional revisions ought to prioritise addressing economic issues and corruption, rather than solely satisfying the political expediency of powerful factions.

“Leadership is the cornerstone of progress or retrogression for any nation,” he said, whether speaking for one or two terms. Nigeria’s officials have had a very narcissistic, megalomaniacal, and self-centred leadership style since the country’s independence, which has led to the low ranking of the nation on state score sheets.

Shehu Gabam, the national chairman of the SDP, called Atiku’s idea illogical.

“That is an individual’s perspective, and Nigeria has advanced past that point,” he said. Nigeria as a country requires more robust institutions.

In order to prevent people from seeing citizens or government resources as personal property, we must fortify these institutions. No government can function globally and accomplish constructive progress in a single term.

“For Nigeria to make significant progress, we require a well-organised leadership style that prioritises accountability and transparency.”

“We cannot solve any problems or end our political crises with a single six-year term. Rather, since they will know they can’t keep stealing after six years in power, it will enable leaders to solidify their ability to do so.