The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Worldwide has called on African leaders to recommit to presidential term limits as a means of ending sit-tight governance and strengthening democratic transitions across the continent.
The Chairman of the organisation, Mr Chibuzo Ubochi, made the call during a telephone interview in Abuja, stressing that respect for constitutional tenure remains critical to democratic stability.
Ubochi, who also serves as Chairman of NiDO-Europe, urged the African Union and regional bodies to treat unconstitutional extensions of tenure with the same level of seriousness accorded to military coups.
He said the sit-tight culture adopted by some African leaders had become a recurring trend, often involving the manipulation of national constitutions to retain power beyond the original mandate.
According to him, prolonged tenures weaken democratic institutions, erode public trust and fuel political instability, while also creating an environment conducive to corruption and human rights abuses.
Ubochi emphasised the need for transparent voter registration, open results management systems and credible domestic and international election observation, including structured participation by citizens in the diaspora.
He added that elections must serve as genuine and competitive pathways to leadership rather than ceremonial processes designed to legitimise predetermined outcomes.
The NiDO chairman also advocated constitutional reforms to allow independent candidacies, diaspora voting rights and the recognition of dual citizenship, noting that leadership should be earned on merit and not monopolised by entrenched political interests.
Ubochi further called on African diaspora organisations to engage host governments in protecting pro-democracy activists and their families, including access to asylum, emergency visas and human rights monitoring mechanisms.
