Abuja — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended a single tenure of seven and six years respectively for the President and state governors in the country.

This recommendation was contained in a position paper the party's National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor submitted to the National Electoral Reform Committee at its public session held at ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja yesterday.

PDP also recommended the appointment of a serving or retired Supreme Court Judge or President of the Court of Appeal as Chairman of the electoral body, subject to approval by the Senate.This, the party said, would restructure and reorganise the Electoral Body to make it strong, independent and responsive to emerging trends and developments in the political environment.

Ogbulafor said, "We observe with concern that General Elections tend to be more acrimonious, contentious and even violent when the country is transiting from one Government to another.

The two times four year term for Governors and the President appear to be the best under current arrangement but the incumbency factor has become a major obstacle to free and fair elections, especially when an incumbent officer is seeking re-election and is being challenged by other strong candidates. Calling on incumbents to resign before elections no doubt will create anarchy and disorder.

"The PDP therefore recommends a system of tenure of seven (7) years for the President, six years for Governors

and three years for Local Government Chairmen. In the case of Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly elections, candidates may continue to seek re-election as long as they are electable.

The party went further that "There is need to restructure and reorganise the Electoral Body to make it strong, independent and responsive to emerging trends and developments in the political environment. This can be achieved through the enactment of the enabling laws, the appointment of a serving or retired Supreme Court Judge or President of the Court of Appeal as Chairman of the Electoral body subject to approval by the Senate.

"Funding of the electoral body should be on first line charge arrangements to ensure that the mechanism of funding is not used to strangulate or undermine the electoral process.

"Funding of Political Parties should be de-centralised so that no single individual, a family or cabal will take over and appropriate a political Party. A ceiling should be placed on individual contributions to a Political Party, while care is also taken not to allow foreign forces to penetrate and take over our parties.

"Leadership of Political Parties should also be held responsible and accountable to breaches of public peace before, during and after elections.

There is need to establish a commission to handle all Electoral offences. This will go a long way in curbing the excesses of Political actors."

PDP also recommended that the Open Ballot System should be adopted for the country's democratic transition in the interim period, adding that with time and with the collective efforts of all stakeholders, the Secret Ballot System can be used in future.

Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum [ACF] said it will be difficult to have a free and fair election in Nigeria until section 154(3) of the 1999 constitution is amended to reconstitute the composition of the Independent Electoral Commission.

The regional body made this suggestion in its submission at the public hearing of the Electoral Reform Committee yesterday.

In a paper it presented, which was signed by its chairman, retired Major General IBM Haruna and its secretary, retired Col Musa Shehu, ACF further suggested that Nigeria should borrow the Indian model by ensuring "that the membership of the electoral commission, including the chairman, be sourced from the membership of civil societies and professional bodies."

ACF mentioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and other professional non partisan bodies. Members should be men and women of proven integrity, honest and God-fearing, the forum added.

The proposed electoral body, according to ACF, will be responsible for conduct of elections while its day-to-day administration will be undertaken by a permanent secretary or its equivalent. The permanent secretary being the accounting officer, should be responsible for the funds budgeted for the conduct of elections.

According to the submission, "the commission should operate for a period of not more than one year. They are to commence operations at least six months to the conduct of general elections and they should wind up at most six months after elections."

The funding of the electoral body, ACF also suggested, "should be on first line charge in the federation account." According to the forum, "the adequate and timely release of funds to INEC will sustain the independent nature of its operation. It will also ensure the commission to freely exercise their responsibilities without fear or favour. That is when INEC can be said to be truly independent."

ACF recommended that option A4 mode of election should be used in party primaries. This will reduce the electoral disputes and violence that presently characterizes the process, it added.

ACF also kicked against the current practice of recruiting ad hoc staff from the rank of the unemployed to conduct elections.It suggested the use of Youth corps members, teachers and volunteers from reputable professional organization.

"The use of armed police, military and other para-military personnel during elections has often translated into intimidation, harassment and maiming of the opposition," the submission noted.