Former Vice President and 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has proposed a six-year single-term rotational presidency between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions.

Atiku submitted this recommendation in a letter dated August 29, 2024, addressed to the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who also serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

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The proposal was made public this week.

Atiku’s submission calls for an amendment to Section 130 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, suggesting the insertion of a clause that would mandate the office of the President to rotate among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, alternating between the North and South.

Each zone would have a single term of six years.

The proposed amendment also seeks to modify Section 135 (2) of the Constitution to stipulate that the President would vacate office after serving a six-year term, with no option for re-election.

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This arrangement, according to Atiku, would ensure fairness and equal representation across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

Atiku, who has unsuccessfully contested for the presidency six times over the last three decades, lost the 2023 election to former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His recent proposal is part of his continued advocacy for structural reforms in Nigeria’s governance system.

Labour Party lawmakers from Anambra State have accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of attempting to undermine local government autonomy through the introduction of the “Anambra State Local Government Administration Law 2024.”

At a press conference held at the National Assembly in Abuja, the lawmakers, including Senator Tony Nwoye, George Ozodinobi, Afam Ogene, Idu Emeka, and Anekwe Peter, raised concerns that the proposed law contradicts a recent Supreme Court ruling that grants financial independence to local governments.

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The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment on July 11, 2024, ruled that local governments should receive funds directly from the Federation Account, bypassing state governments.

The Labour Party caucus argues that the proposed bill seeks to reverse this decision, depriving Anambra’s 21 local governments of their financial autonomy.

Senator Nwoye explained that the bill includes provisions that would allow the state government to control local government funds, specifically through Section 13, which establishes a State Joint Local Government Account.

This, the lawmakers claimed, is a clear violation of the Supreme Court ruling that bars state interference with local government finances.

In its judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court ruled that states have no constitutional right to control or manage local government allocations.

The court underscored that local governments are entitled to direct funding from the Federation Account, without interference from state authorities.

The Labour Party lawmakers also criticized Section 14 of the proposed bill, which requires local governments to remit a percentage of their allocations to a consolidated account managed by the state.

They argued that this further violates the Supreme Court’s decision and undermines local government financial autonomy.

Additionally, they condemned Section 16 of the bill, which mandates that local governments contribute 20% of their allocations to a Local Government Joint Security Trust Account within two days of receiving funds from the Federation Account.

According to the lawmakers, this provision would financially weaken the local governments, making them reliant on the state.

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Quoting Justice Moore Adumein’s remarks from the Supreme Court ruling, Senator Nwoye warned that continued state control over local government allocations would suffocate and ultimately render local governments powerless.

He stressed that local governments should not be treated as extensions or colonies of state governments.

The Labour Party caucus urged Governor Soludo and the Anambra State House of Assembly to reconsider the proposed law and comply fully with the Supreme Court ruling, which is intended to enhance the financial independence of local governments across Nigeria.

They called for the preservation of local government autonomy to ensure effective grassroots governance and development.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced strong concerns over the current state of Nigeria, stating that the nation’s challenges today are even worse than those faced in 1984.

ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, made these remarks during the 2024 edition of the ASUU State of the Nation Conference, held in Abuja on Thursday.

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The conference, themed “Nigeria in a State of General Crisis: The Search for a New Path to Development,” sought to address the country’s worsening economic and political climate, with a particular focus on finding sustainable solutions to restore growth and stability.

In his speech, Professor Osodeke criticized Nigeria’s governance, claiming it is increasingly dominated by foreign interests and benefiting only a select few.

He lamented that despite Nigeria’s abundant resources, the majority of its citizens continue to live in poverty. He called for a more equitable distribution of the country’s wealth to serve the needs of all Nigerians.

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Reflecting on Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, Osodeke expressed disappointment that conditions in the country today are more dire than they were in 1984.

He linked Nigeria’s current difficulties to the failure of successive governments to address the resolutions from ASUU’s first State of the Nation Conference in 1984, which was held at the University of Benin.

The same issues highlighted back then, such as shortages of basic goods, failing infrastructure, mass unemployment, high inflation, and exploitation of the country’s resources by foreign companies, persist today.

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Osodeke emphasized that ASUU’s mission extends beyond advocating for better pay and conditions for university staff.

The union, founded in 1978, has long been focused on protecting and advancing the broader socio-economic and cultural well-being of the Nigerian people.

He noted that ASUU has been at the forefront of generating ideas for improved governance through its national conferences.

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Also speaking at the event, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by a deputy, praised ASUU for its consistent efforts to improve funding for universities and for its advocacy on behalf of Nigerian academics.

He acknowledged ASUU’s pivotal role in shaping the country’s educational landscape and contributing to national development.

ASUU concluded the conference by urging the government to take immediate action to address the nation’s crises and implement policies that would liberate Nigeria from both foreign and local exploiters.

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The union stressed the need for policies that would restore the dignity of the country and improve the welfare of its citizens.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has issued a stern warning to political operatives attempting to interfere in the upcoming Rivers State local government elections, slated for October 5.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, IPAC’s National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, called for a transparent and interference-free electoral process.

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Dantalle criticized the exorbitant nomination fees, which he claimed were designed to block credible candidates from participating in the elections.

He also expressed concerns over conflicting court rulings, which he said could jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process.

Highlighting the importance of elections at the local government level, Dantalle emphasized that they are fundamental to democracy because local governments are closest to the people.

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He urged Nigerians to support democracy by ensuring that the will of the electorate is respected.

IPAC called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to investigate judicial officers involved in issuing questionable orders that compromise the electoral process.

The council reiterated its longstanding proposal for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), calling for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to oversee all local government elections for greater transparency.

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Dantalle also urged security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, to ensure the safety of voters and electoral officials during the polls.

He stressed that IPAC will not tolerate attempts by political actors to derail Nigeria’s democracy, urging the people of Rivers State to vote for their preferred candidates.

The council further condemned judicial interventions aimed at halting the elections, accusing desperate politicians of engaging in “forum shopping” to secure favorable rulings.

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Dantalle warned that such actions threaten the integrity of the judiciary and called on judicial authorities to restore public confidence by sanctioning errant judges.

IPAC noted that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has assured all stakeholders that the election will be free, fair, and credible, and confirmed that political parties have complied with all the necessary procedures for participation.

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IPAC further stressed the need for all political parties and candidates to respect electoral integrity, calling for a level playing field for all participants to ensure that the will of the people is upheld in the ballot box.

A Katsina State High Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking the removal of Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The suit was filed by a party member, Ibrahim Musa, who argued that Damagum’s appointment violated the PDP’s constitutional provisions, as he replaced Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the North-central zone.

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Musa contended that Ayu’s successor should also come from the North-central geopolitical zone.

However, in a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Abdullahi Bawa-Faskari struck out the case, citing it as an internal party matter over which the court had no jurisdiction.

He upheld the preliminary objections raised by the defense, stating that the issue was not justiciable because it fell entirely within the party’s internal affairs.

Isaac Nwachukwu, counsel for the respondent, praised the court’s decision, emphasizing that the suit lacked merit and the court had no grounds to hear it.

On the other hand, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Abdullahi Abdulkadir, expressed his intent to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal after reviewing the judgment.