Presidential candidates must secure over 50% of votes to be declared winner, says Chidoka

A former Minister of Aviation and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osita Chidoka, has put forward a proposal, suggesting the need to modify the Nigerian Constitution and electoral regulations.

According to Chidoka, any individual aiming for the presidency must acquire more than 50 percent of the total votes cast in a general election to be considered eligible for the role.

Chidoka emphasized this point during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

Chidoka also pointed out that the limited number of votes obtained by President Bola Tinubu in the previous presidential election placed him in a significant minority position.

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This minority status, in Chidoka’s view, hindered Tinubu’s ability to advance major initiatives, such as the elimination of petrol subsidies and the streamlining of foreign exchange processes.

The ex-minister proposed a runoff system for presidential elections in cases where no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast.

“I think we need to amend our laws to make it that any presidential candidate who doesn’t make 50 plus 1 of the votes cast in an election should go for a runoff because election of a President as 33% of the votes keeps the President in serious minority that makes him difficult to push big agenda,” the ex-minister said.