A proposed bill aiming to amend specific sections of the 1999 Constitution reportedly seeks to restrict the involvement of particular geopolitical zones in the upcoming 2027 presidential elections.
Sponsored by Ojema Ojetu, representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in Benue State, the bill is currently under review by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review.
If passed into law, the bill would enforce a rotation system for the presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, barring those that have already produced a president since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999. This move is intended to ensure inclusivity, participation, and representation in the nation’s democracy.
The proposed legislation introduces several alterations to the constitution. Notably, it suggests that each state would hold the presidency for a maximum of two terms of four years each, with the rotation beginning from May 29, 1999.
Additionally, it proposes that the office of the governor within a state should rotate among its three senatorial zones, aiming to foster development and inclusion at the state level.
Furthermore, the bill suggests that senatorial elections should rotate among all federal constituencies within the senatorial zone, promoting representation and progress at the constituency level. It also stipulates that each federal constituency should produce a senator before any constituency can repeat.
The bill’s implications are profound, particularly for the North-West, South-West, and South-South regions, which have produced presidents in recent years. Notably, Nigeria has seen presidents from Ogun State (South-West), Katsina State (North-West), and Bayelsa State (South-South) since 1999.
