Stakeholders Push for New Constitution, State Police, and Same-Day Elections at Historic Summit

A renewed national push for constitutional reform surged Friday as elder statesmen, legal experts, and civic leaders under the Eminent Patriots of Nigeria demanded a fresh, people-driven constitution to replace the current 1999 arrangement, which they condemned as illegitimate and outdated.

At the National Constitutional Summit held in Abuja, delegates called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate an Executive Bill that would empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections into a new Constituent Assembly. The purpose, they said, is to draft a democratic constitution that genuinely reflects the will and diversity of Nigerians.

According to the summit’s communiqué, read by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, participants insisted that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) lacks legitimacy, having been imposed by a military regime without public input or referendum. “Nigeria is in urgent need of complete restructuring and constitutional recalibration,” Anyaoku said, outlining demands for a return to true federalism and regional autonomy.

The proposed Constituent Assembly, according to the summit, should include non-partisan elected delegates and representatives of various interest groups across society. Any constitution drafted would be subjected to a national referendum before it is enacted, ensuring widespread participation and legitimacy.

Legal icon Mike Ozekhome (SAN), former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, and Senator Ike Nwachukwu were among high-profile participants at the gathering. They backed the calls for decentralizing Nigeria’s governance model, especially by reducing excessive powers held by the federal government and the presidency.

The summit identified the current presidential system as both financially unsustainable and politically counterproductive. “This structure breeds autocratic tendencies and impedes development,” the communiqué warned. Delegates called for cost-cutting reforms such as scrapping the bicameral legislature in favour of a leaner, more affordable structure.

Judicial reform was also high on the agenda. Delegates advocated the separation of the offices of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, both federally and at state levels, to ensure legal independence and remove political interference from judicial affairs. They also proposed empowering states to operate their own court systems up to appellate level, with the Supreme Court reserved for constitutional and intergovernmental matters.

On electoral reforms, the summit demanded that all national elections be held on the same day, pointing to Brazil and Ghana as successful examples. It also urged legal amendments to make Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic result transmission mandatory, enhancing transparency and trust in the electoral process.

Furthermore, the delegates proposed provisions in the new constitution for independent candidacy, allowing individuals to run for office outside of political parties. They insisted that elected officials who defect from the party on which they were elected should immediately forfeit their seats, stating that party-switching undermines voter trust and distorts democratic accountability.

Security and governance were not left out. The summit demanded a constitutional basis for establishing state police, emphasizing the need for locally tailored security solutions to Nigeria’s growing internal threats. Additionally, they stressed that leadership of national security institutions must rotate equitably across Nigeria’s regions.

Upholding secularism was also reaffirmed. “Nigeria shall remain a secular state in perpetuity,” the communiqué declared, adding that both federal and state governments must steer clear of religious bias in governance.

Summarizing the mood of the summit, Anyaoku said the cost-heavy, pseudo-federal system currently in place is incapable of delivering the democratic dividends Nigerians deserve. “We must restructure to survive,” he asserted, reflecting the urgency and weight behind the call for a new constitutional order.

The Eminent Patriots, made up of respected voices across Nigeria’s intellectual and political spectrum, concluded with a unified appeal for bold leadership and inclusive dialogue to build a more just, representative, and functional nation.