The National Assembly has been charged to consider critical amendments to the 1999 Constitution to allow Deputy Governor who succeeds their deceased Principals to run for two terms of 8years.
Shola Elekan, Data Scientist & Public Policy Commentator, from Ondo State, made the call in a memoradum he submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review during a Public Hearing held in Akure.
He focuses his memo on “Clarification of Section 182(3) of the 1999 Constitution –Implications for Gubernatorial Succession and Re-election.
“This memorandum is submitted in response to the House of Representatives’ call for public input on the ongoing constitutional review. I seek to draw the Committee’s attention to the ambiguity embedded in Section 182(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and its implications for democratic succession, re-election, and constitutional fairness.
“The provision as currently worded is vulnerable to misinterpretation and may result in the unjust exclusion of candidates who are constitutionally entitled to contest an election. As such, I propose a clarification of this provision to avoid future constitutional crises.”
According to Elekan, “to avoid misapplication and protect democratic rights, I respectfully propose: Amendment of Section 182(3) to introduce a minimum succession threshold (e.g., 24 months), below which succession does not count as a full term.
“Clarification that assuming office through Section 191(1) does not equate to being elected within the meaning of Section 182(1)(b), unless the successor completes more than two years.
“Codification of this threshold, like how thresholds exist in Sections 134 and 179, to maintain logical coherence within the Constitution.”
