“As a party, we have called for a scrapping of one of the houses, the nation can do with one.”
Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, says he will turn Nigeria’s federal legislature into a unicameral parliament if elected president.
According to the Sahara Reporters publisher, Nigeria does not require a bicameral legislature, describing it as wasteful.
“The U.S. is a multitrillion-dollar economy and has only 100 senators, but Nigeria, that is not as rich as some states in the U.S., has 109 senators and 360 house of representatives members,” Mr Sowore explained. “As a party, we have called for a scrapping of one of the houses, the nation can do with one, but when it comes to constitutional matters, it is the people that have the rights through a referendum.”
He said Nigeria needed a new constitution, adding that the 1999 Constitution does not portray equity and egalitarianism.
“We have been amending the Nigerian constitution since 1999, and we have not made headway because of its faulty foundation,” said the AAC presidential flag bearer. “The National Assembly does not understand the power of the Nigerian people; that is why they must be one of the first casualties of a restructured Nigeria.”
He said politicians usually created tension before an election in Nigeria to cause apprehension so that people would not come out to vote.
“The best candidates are not the ones that are promoted in the front line. Lots of Nigerians want the best to lead come 2023, and AAC has demonstrated character. That is why many of them cannot come out for a debate where we are,” Mr Sowore noted.
(NAN)
