Africa-Press – Nigeria. Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Maxwell Opara, has told the National Assembly to channel the energy being wasted on the bill on rotational presidency towards electoral laws ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Bill proposing rotational presidency during a democratic regime among the six geographical parts of the country was rejected in the House of Representatives on Tuesday during a legislative debate.
The bill which was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, was rejected on grounds that the current constitutional principle of federal character sufficiently covered the concerns it aimed to address.
Speaking on Arise News, the analyst said the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in the 2023 general elections have raised issues that should give the National Assembly a clue on how to amend electoral laws.
“I think the intention of Benjamin Kalu, the person who proposed to that bill, is to ensure that each zone of this country have their own share in the presidency, a situation whereby a particular zone will hold on to the presidency for years without any other zone tested at that position is the intention.
“But now the question there is, would that solve the problem of Nigeria?
“This particular energy they are wasting in trying to bring up the bill should be channelled to our electoral laws because the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in 2023 general election have raised some issues that will give the National Assembly the clue on how to amend our electoral law so that we get it right in 2027.
“Nigeria knows who is competent, whether you are from the north or any part of the country. If you recall the 2023 election, what happened? Peter Obi received the necessary support from the north, from everywhere.
“Nobody is talking about that because they know that Nigerians know that if you are competent. I think that bill is a misapplication of a priority as far as I’m concerned. They should channel their energy in amending the electoral laws.”
For More News And Analysis About Nigeria Follow Africa-Press
