Politics
Between Constitutional Review And Nationhood
“Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.
It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people”.
This excerpt from President Barack Obama’s re-election speech last Tuesday night aptly captures the aura that surrounded proceedings in last weekend’s Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency Peoples’ Public Session on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
Last Saturday, Nigerians, no doubt, got the opportunity they had long craved for. Divided into the 360 Federal Constituencies, they came together in their clusters to be able to contribute to the constitution that binds the country together, to be in a position to attempt to right the numerous perceived wrongs warranted by what many a Nigerian term as ill-written constitution.
It was the first time in the life of the 52 years old country, with ten Constitutional reviews, that the people have been given this opportunity, and none, going by what transpired in the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, was ready to let the opportunity slip by.
In the task of moving the country forward, all the participants showed eagerness to correct those areas of the constitution considered to be the cloak under which various ills are executed in the body polity of Nigeria.
In all 43 items of the tentative template provided as guide for voting on key issues by the House of Representatives, participants at the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency exhibited such unbridled candour that is reminiscent of the American spirit.
All 170 participants, including those representing key segments of the country and volunteers in the constituency, exhibited such maturity that left no one in doubt that Nigerians are ready to determine their own destiny and move forward as a nation.
Going by what transpired at the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, all 360 constituencies have their mindset on what they want in the constitution, and what to expect given the exigencies of the moment, based on the interests of their peculiar constituency.
Currently, though, the determination to move forward at the end of last Saturday’s proceedings is just at the level of the 360 Federal Constituencies. The real determination to work and reason as a nation, however, is in terms of merging all the determinations of the various constituencies into one indivisible work plan accepted by all segments of the country.
This, in fact, is where the true determination of Nigerians to coexist as a nation will be tested most. Areas likely to cause disagreement among the constituencies and States may include state creation, indigenship, zoning of the Presidency, immunity for the President and Governors, State Police, true federalism and revenue allocation.
The reason is that in all of such matters, each State has special interests that would be difficult to compromise. One way or another, each State or geo-political zone feels either sidelined or victimized in at least one of these issues. They are therefore likely to seek redress by way of compensation in agreement to their stand to be recognized in the constitution.
This is where another of Obama’s post-election speech comes to bear. Realizing the enormity of the divergent group and personal interests in politics generally, he said, “I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics that tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests”.
He explained that beyond this stance, a knowledge and understanding of what politics should be and how it should be viewed can only be appreciated in the context of peoples’ willingness to make certain commitments.
“You’ll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who’s working his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity. You’ll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who’s going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift.
“You’ll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who’s working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ever have to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home.
“That’s why we do this. That’s what politics can be. That’s why elections matter. It’s not small, it’s big. It’s important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated.
“We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy”, Obama said.
Nigeria may not be a country of 300 million people, but going by the rate of the country’s increasing population, it might not be too far before it attains that status. However, what the country currently lacks in population, comparatively, it makes up in multi-lingual and ethnic dichotomy. These twin phenomena have been the remote causes of most disagreements in post-colonial Nigeria.
For the final stretch of the constitution review to record the same success as it did at the constituencies, therefore, the interests of Nigerians as a people with peculiar geographical needs and problems must be foremost in the hearts of those we have elected to represent us. No matter the fora they find themselves.
As Obama puts it, “but despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future: We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers; A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.
“We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that’s safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this world has ever known.
“But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war, to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.
“We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrant’s daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag. To the young boy on the south side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner. To the furniture worker’s child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president — that’s the future we hope for. That’s the vision we share. That’s where we need to go — forward. That’s where we need to go”.
Even in his conviction, Obama acknowledges that “Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It’s not always a straight line. It’s not always a smooth path.
“By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won’t end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin”.
One point to begin is to set eyes on developing our homes, streets, communities and States both as individuals and as a government so that we will always feel comfortable in them any day. We need to develop an innate love for our roots to genuinely be able to claim love for other parts of the country.
If for nothing else, to encourage others to also feel free to visit or reside in them, just as we seek to improve other areas to our comfort. Every State in Nigeria has what it takes to develop and attract people to it. It’s the determination to do it that’s lacking.
In Obama’s words, what makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold them together as the most diverse nation on earth: “The belief that our destiny is shared, that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations.
“The freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities as well as rights. And among those are love and charity and duty and patriotism. That’s what makes America great”, according to Obama.
We can develop the same mindset. If we begin it from this point, we know in our hearts that the best is yet to come.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted on the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise yesterday (Sunday) despite calls by some opposition political parties and civil society organisations for an extension over concerns that millions of citizens could be excluded from the 2027 general elections.
In a notice issued on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, the commission reminded the public that the exercise would end on Sunday, July 26, with designated registration centres open from 9am to 3pm.
“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the Commission stated.
INEC also reminded prospective voters that they could complete the registration process online through its dedicated CVR portal or visit designated INEC offices and registration centres nationwide for physical assistance.
The new Electoral Act stipulates that INEC is required to stop voter registration, updating and revision of the voters’ register 90 days before an election to allow for data clean-up, the printing of Permanent Voter Cards and other logistical preparations.
The law also requires the Commission to display the voters’ register for claims and objections within the stipulated period to enable eligible Nigerians to challenge omissions and errors and help ensure the credibility of the final register for the polls.
The INEC National Commissioner on Information and Voter Education, Mr Mohammed Haruna, told The Tide source that the Commission would not extend the deadline, stressing that the registration exercise had to close to allow the electoral body to begin cleaning the data already collected.
“By midnight on Sunday, voter registration ends. There won’t be any extension. There are so many things that we need to do at the back end. We have to draw a line; otherwise, we won’t be able to produce a clean copy of what has been posted,” he said.
Mr Haruna explained that the commission’s Information Technology team and the Voter Registration Department would begin processing the data immediately after the closure of the registration window.
He said INEC would deploy its Automated Biometric Identification System to detect and remove multiple registrations before the provisional voters’ register is displayed for public scrutiny.
“We have this automatic biometric system that will check whether somebody has registered more than once. They will publish the register for claims and objections. That is, if anybody thinks a name shouldn’t be on the register, or if he has some claims, for instance, that his name has been omitted or some of his details are incorrect,” he said.
According to him, the final number of newly registered voters would only be known after the biometric verification and the claims and objections process.
“So, it’s after all that has been done that we will have a final figure, which we will now add to the existing 93 million or so. That will then become the voters’ register. We are mandated to give every political party a copy ahead of the election,” Mr Haruna added.
Responding to concerns over the number of Nigerians who may be excluded from the 2027 electoral process by the closure, the national commissioner said INEC could only account for eligible citizens who presented themselves for registration.
He added that the commission had recorded registrations through its online platform, physical registration centres and INEC offices across the 774 local government areas.
According to a public announcement signed by Mr Ariyo Rufus, Head of Department, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Inclusivity on behalf of Mr Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the said exercise is aimed at assessing its operational readiness and testing the efficiency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the governorship poll.
INEC stated that the exercise would simulate Election Day accreditation procedures but clarified that no voting would take place during the exercise.
The commission explained that “the mock accreditation would be conducted in selected polling units spread across the three senatorial districts of Osun State, covering Osun Central, Osun East and Osun West.
“In Osun Central Senatorial District, the selected local government areas are Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun and Boripe, with designated polling units identified for the exercise.
“For Osun East Senatorial District, the exercise will take place in selected polling units across Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Oriade and Obokun local government areas.”
INEC also listed Egbedore, Ede North, Ede South and Ejigbo local government areas as the selected councils for the mock accreditation exercise in Osun West Senatorial District.
The commission urged all registered voters whose polling units were selected to participate in the exercise, stressing that only holders of valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be accredited.
“This exercise is designed to test the functionality and efficiency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) under conditions similar to Election Day. There shall be no voting during the exercise,” the Commission stated.
INEC reaffirmed its appreciation to residents of Osun State for their continued cooperation and support throughout the electoral process.
INEC also assured political parties, the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Dare made the remark while criticizing Alhaji Abubakar for hiring a United States of America lobbyist with $1.2 million, in preparation for the 2027 elections.
In a statement he personally signed, Mr Dare said the former vice president can’t take Nigeria down the path of self-destruction.
The statement read in part: “Worse still, for a man who presumes to offer leadership to Africa’s most populous nation, his recent resort to grievance offshoring, outsourcing political warfare to Washington and reportedly paying $1.2 million to an American lobbying firm to peddle petitions against a sitting Nigerian President, stands as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and a vote of no confidence in its democratic institutions.
“It is also a stinging slight, an implicit condescension directed at generations of Nigerian journalists, policy analysts, academics, and public intellectuals who have spent decades analysing, critiquing, and carrying the burden of the nation’s democratic evolution.
“The Atiku Abubakar of today cuts a pitiable figure, a grotesque portrait of what a politician becomes when ambition overwhelms judgment and every political faculty becomes programmed for self-destruction.
“No, Atiku cannot take Nigeria down that path with him. He must travel it alone. But first, Nigerians deserve Atiku Abubakar’s report card. Charity, they say, begins at home, not in Washington.
“Nigerians deserve to know whether the Atiku Abubakar who has long presented himself as a democrat is, in reality, a politician of many colours. He has erected for himself a throne built simultaneously on sand and bayonets. It is time to explode the bayonets.”