Politics
Reps move for rotational presidency, six-year single term for president, govs
Reps move for rotational presidency, six-year single term for president, govs
Some members of the House of Representatives are seeking a constitutional review to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones.
Specifically, the lawmakers under the aegis of the Reform Minded Legislators are asking for a single tenure of six years for Nigeria’s President and state governors.
A bill to this effect is currently before the House of Representatives and has passed the first reading.
The federal lawmakers, about 30 of them sponsoring the reform bills, contended that it would lead to reduction in government spending, eliminate wastage, bring about efficiency in governance and national stability.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Co-sponsor of the reformers bills and member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the electoral reform bills would be going for a second reading on the floor of the House soon.
He said the bills, if passed into law, would help reduce the cost of governance and campaigns and unite the country.
He also said it would ensure a seamless transition, continuity, uninterrupted development, justice, equity, independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and efficient use of state resources.
Ugochinyere said, “We are a group of reform-minded lawmakers committed towards using the instrument of lawmaking to reform Nigeria and our political process, constitutional and electoral reform has been a burning topic in Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960.”
He added that the arrangement was in line with the realisation that the current political arrangement has some identified distortions, defects and limitations that called for urgent, focused and realistic attention, hence the initiative on political and electoral reform.
Ugochinyere said, “These bills which are 50 in numbers have gone through first reading but today we are starting with public unveiling of about six of them while the remaining will come in the weeks ahead.
“It ranges from governance, economic, security, and justice sector reforms to social bills that will target unifying our nation and ensuring long-lasting peace and national cohesion.”
The lawmakers stressed that they were cognisant of the fact that Nigeria in times past had deliberated on and accepted some of the proposals in the Bills, including the Justice Uwais electoral reforms, the Senator Ken Nnamani electoral reform committee, the Udoji civil service reform reports, the Confab reports, among others.
Against this background, the lawmakers said they are proposing: “Constitutional alteration to provide for the 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.
“To amend section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.
“To amend the Constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President and governors.”
The lawmakers are also proposing a constitutional amendment to create the office of two vice presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.
They lawmakers said that the first vice president should be a succession vice president, while the second vice president should be a minister in charge of the economy, and both to serve as ministers.
The lawmakers said, “Constitutional amendment to provide that the President and the 1st Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (North or South) and the 1st Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated, i.e., Vice President (Succession), Vice President (Administration and Economy).
“The financial autonomy and accountability of Local Government Councils by prescribing an independent Consolidated Local Government Council Account solely superintendent by Local Councils and prescribing long-term imprisonment for any misuse of Local Government funds.
“To amend section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide that where a State Government fails to remit to the Local Government Councils within its jurisdiction (or within the State), the amounts standing to the credit of that Local Government in the allocation from the Federation account, such State Government shall not be entitled to receive a future allocation from the federal government.’
On electoral reforms, the lawmakers are proposing bills to amend the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to ensure that all elections — presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and local governments are held on the same day.
The lawmakers are also proposing amendment to relevant sections of the Electoral Act to provide that no declaration of a winner of an election shall be done by the relevant INEC Officials until such officer has compared the results with the list of accredited voters and ensured that the results to be declared are in tandem with the list of accredited voters and the B-VAS machine or any other electronic device.
Politics
South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position
South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position
The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has worsened as the South East caucus threatened mass exit if its choice of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as national secretary was not respected for the umpteenth time.
This comes as the Governor of Enugu State and leader of the party in the zone, Dr. Peter Mbah, rallied members of the party in the zone to speak with one voice.
Equally expressing disappointment at development in the party, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, described the refusal of the party in allowing the zone to complete its tenure as secretary as disturbing anddisrespectful.
The zone vented its displeasure in a communique read by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, at the end of a meeting by the South East Zonal Executive (ZEC) at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.
It said the meeting was convened to nominate a candidate to complete the remaining term of the position of national secretary in line with the directive of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, during its 600th meeting in Abuja.
Odefa said: “The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”
READ ALSO:
- ASUU threatens court action against JAMB over 2025 UTME results
- Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others
- Nigerians will decide 2027, Patience Jonathan told
The South East PDP, however, regretted that it had to go through the process of nominating Udeh-Okoye several times since October 2023, and urged the NWC to not only immediately ratify his nomination, but also ensure that Setonji Koshoedo effectively occupies the Office of the National Secretary in acting capacity pending Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the NEC.
The South East PDP, however, threatened to review its continued membership of the party should its position suffer further delay despite its agelong loyalty to the PDP.
“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party.
“Currently, while the party has been losing key members post-2023 general elections, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the party by rallying major opposition figures such as in Enugu where the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate, two LP House of Representatives Members, numerous members of the House of Assembly, among other stalwarts into the PDP fold.
“Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. This would bring to a closure to the needless lingering dispute over the matter.
“However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” the communique concluded.
Wabara, on his part, said it was in order to review the region’s relationship with the party should what he described as trampling of the zone by the party persist.
“We have been trampled upon, not taken seriously. If such a position were vacant in the South-South, it would not be like this. And now, it came to us. I mean, the usual thing is to play politics with the Igbo man. Yes, we may have to reconsider our stand as far as the party is concerned. But I trust the NWC,” he stated.
Udenwa, on his part, Udenwa said: “We are expecting that this issue will be finally ironed out once and for all. We do not want to be taken for granted by anybody again.”
South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position
Politics
Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others
Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others
National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has fired back at critics within the party, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, over recent allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, Abure challenged his opponents to prove they gave him or the party any money during the 2023 elections. He denied ever receiving funds for personal use and warned that if provoked further, he would reveal damaging details about them.
“I want to challenge all of them. I saw some of them on television talking about corruption. Let any of them from Peter Obi down come forward and publicly declare what they personally gave to me or the party,” he said.
“Who brought the money? Who was it given to? Where was it sent? I challenge them today to come out boldly with or without evidence and say it. Otherwise, let them forever remain silent.”
Abure said he had kept silent until now in the interest of peace within the party. But he declared that the time for silence was over.
READ ALSO:
- Nigerians will decide 2027, Patience Jonathan told
- FG forms panel to harmonise university fee payment
- Tinubu’s economic reforms making Nigeria more investible — UK Envoy
“As a leader, I kept quiet thinking they were making mistakes and would eventually come around.
“When issues about election agents and funds came up, I said nothing because I believed I should accept the good, the bad, and the ugly within our fold.
“But now that some have crossed the line, I have no choice. If they provoke me further, I will reveal everything. When I open my mouth, they will stink like rotten eggs no one wants to touch.”
He also announced plans to hold a world press conference to address the growing internal crisis in the party.
Turning to Governor Alex Otti, Abure accused him of not contributing financially to the party during the elections.
“That governor who is jumping like a cricket from one point to another, we did not collect a dime from him. If he gave money to anyone, let him come forward and say so,” he said.
“When we met at Transcorp, he asked me, ‘Chairman, what do I do for you?’ I told him, ‘Nothing. Use your money for your campaign.’”
Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others
Politics
Nigerians will decide 2027, Patience Jonathan told
Nigerians will decide 2027, Patience Jonathan told
A social reform group known as The Crusader has criticized former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan over her recent comments concerning the 2027 presidential elections, asserting that her time in office diminished the stature of the First Lady position.
The group’s reaction followed Mrs. Jonathan’s remarks that she would campaign alongside current First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and had no plans of returning to Aso Rock. Speaking through its spokesperson, Adesola Babafemi, The Crusader stressed that the decision on who emerges victorious in the 2027 elections remains solely with the Nigerian electorate—not Mrs. Jonathan.
“Dame Patience knows very well that if her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan, decides to run for the presidency in 2027, it is Nigerians who will determine his fate,” Babafemi stated. He added that while Jonathan might still enjoy public support, “She will certainly never be the First Lady again, but people are ready to vote for him en masse.”
The group also praised Goodluck Jonathan’s younger wife, describing her as “refined, humane, and cerebral,” noting her legal background as fitting for the role of First Lady.
READ ALSO:
- FG forms panel to harmonise university fee payment
- Tinubu’s economic reforms making Nigeria more investible — UK Envoy
- Tinubu presents N1.78tn FCT budget to Senate, seeks speedy approval
Addressing recent developments, Babafemi pointed out that the current administration had restored properties seized from Patience Jonathan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), questioning her sudden alignment with the ruling party.
“It is worth mentioning that the federal government has returned all properties seized from Dame Patience by the EFCC. This raises questions about her motivations and her alignment with the ruling party,” Babafemi noted.
The Crusader further urged Patience Jonathan to refrain from making public statements that suggest she speaks on behalf of the former president. Babafemi asserted, “We call on her to desist from implying that she is the spokesperson for the former president, a position she does not hold.”
Reflecting on her tenure from 2010 to 2015, the group accused Patience Jonathan of reducing the dignity of the Office of the First Lady through “theatrical actions,” adding that Nigerians are “tired of her attempts to influence political discourse.”
“Her tenure ridiculed the Office of the First Lady, and it is time for the public to recognize that her past actions do not reflect the values we need in leadership today,” the group stated.
As the 2027 elections approach, The Crusader emphasized that only Nigerians would decide the political future of the Jonathan family, irrespective of any public declarations by the former First Lady.
Nigerians will decide 2027, Patience Jonathan told
-
Education2 days agoJAMB admits errors in 2025 UTME, reschedules exam for 379,997 candidates
-
Education2 days agoUTME candidate who committed suicide over low score gets admission
-
Entertainment2 days agoActress seeks help after six years of homelessness
-
metro2 days agoFemale broadcaster, Bukola Agbakaizu, dies in office
-
metro3 days agoMaryam Abacha university shuts female hostels over immorality
-
metro2 days agoLamido to Tinubu: Pay Abiola’s family N45bn FG owes him
-
metro21 hours agoOver 75% of Nigerian imports offloaded in Benin Republic – Speaker Abbas
-
Entertainment3 days agoOgunwusi, Soyinka laud Tinubu for creating cultural-friendly environment