The League of Northern Democrat (LND) has rejected the return of Nigeria to a parliamentary system of government.
The LND, chaired by former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau advocated instead for the continued use of the presidential system.
Making his position known in a paper presented at the National Dialogue on a Home-Grown Parliamentary System in Abuja, the former governor stated how the presidential system required leaders to seek a broad electoral mandate, fosters national unity by compelling candidates to appeal across ethnic and regional divides.
According to him, the parliamentary model adopted at independence, with representatives accountable mainly to local constituencies, often entrenched narrow regional interests at the national level, as seen during the First Republic.
He explained, “The presidential system’s Federal Character principle ensures broad representation, creating a structural safeguard that promotes inclusivity.”
This framework, according to him, prevents any single group from dominating the political landscape and allows for a balance of interests, making the presidential model more resilient against special interest capture.
He argued that a return to the parliamentary system would risk fostering localism and factionalism, alleging that members would likely focus on representing specific ethnic or regional interests over national priorities.
He also argued that the presidential system’s broader constituency encourages coalition-building that dilutes the dominance of any one group, opining that the inclusive approach has helped advance national integration, breaking down divisive barriers.
Northern democrats reject parliamentary system of government
