Politics
Nigeria: Towards A Workable Constitution
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review made a bold attempt, penultimate week, to commence an innovative discourse with the people in 360 centres spread across the federal constituencies. The move, believed to be coming rather late, is aimed at addressing the disconnect between Nigerians and the 1999 Constitution decreed by the last military dictatorship.
This process of public participation is sequel to the ad hoc committee of the National Assembly which had collated more than 200 contents of the memoranda submitted by individuals, groups and organisations.
Some of the issues that constituted the agenda for the public discourse include zonal configuration, controversial immunity clause, state police, power sharing, five, six or seven-year single tenure for the executive arm of government, creation of more states, independent candidacy, voting age, women representation, unicameral legislature, presidential or parliamentary system of government, status of traditional rulers and further electoral reforms.
Stakeholders at both local and state levels had fresh opportunities to make further inputs into the constitution review process at the public sessions held across the country. More importantly, all mass-based groups, including professional bodies like the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) played crucial roles at the sessions put together by an independent steering committee of stakeholders, including house member organisations representing the constituency as the facilitator.
Similarly, other stakeholders in the Nigerian project such as ethnic nationalities, women, youths, students, town unions, traditional institutions, political parties and artisans, and The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) made inputs in expectation of an enduring document that will actually define an egalitarian nation.
Determined to bring in their wealth of experience as captains of the ship of the 36 States,to bear on the very fundamental document that will direct the affairs of Nigeria in the next dispensation, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) constituted various committees last month to look into the review of the 1999 constitution.
Chairman of the Forum, Chibuike Amaechi, while briefing newsmen in Abuja, said the NGF, after meeting with the Senate Committee vested with the responsibility to review the constitution, resolved to set up a committee consisting of the Governors of Rivers, Jigawa, Bauchi, Lagos, Niger, Anambra and Akwa-Ibom states, to liaise with the Deputy Senate President-led Constitution Review Committee to advise on issues that are of collective interest to them.
The Rivers State Governor said: “Forum held an exploratory meeting with the Senate Committee on 1999 Constitutional Review led by the Chairman and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and constituted a seven-man committee to engage and collaborate with the National Assembly on the constitution review process.”
But indications are that a few of the membership of the forum hold different opinion of what should actually be. Few days after the NGF announced the formation of the committee, Governor Aliyu Wamako of Sokoto State, at the presentation of the 2012 merit award on leadership and administration of peace on the governors of the North West states by the Raymond Dokpesi Centre for Media Development in Abuja, took a swipe at plans by the National Assembly to set in motion the review of the constitution, noting that what the country needs at present was not constitution review or creation of new states.
He stressed that Nigeria’s problem has gone beyond the proliferation of states but the sustenance of the existing ones, contending that Nigerian leaders should at this stage, which he described as the most critical, unite to examine measures that will lift the country from its present predicaments.
Wamako’s outburst seems to have introduced a new dimension into the collective position expected to come from the NGF whose individual member view is expected to be harmonised and presented to the National Assembly in a memorandum before the commencement of the public hearing.
The Sokoto State Governor is not alone in the expression of a divergent view on the review of the Constitution, his Kano State counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwanso is totally displeased with the entire process, openly accusing the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Emeka Ihedioha of collaborating to foist an Igbo agenda on their colleagues. “It’s Igbo agenda”, Kwankwanso alleges.
Speaking with reporters in Kano, Kwankwanso said that the “process is designed to achieve a predetermined goal and the principal officers of the committee are pursuing an agenda under an agenda”. Senate President, David Mark, in a retort absolved the National Assembly of having a hidden agenda saying the National Assembly would be guided by the views of the majority of Nigerians.
However, while some Governors express reservations on the process, others are optimistic. One of those foreseeing positive outcome of the exercise is Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State. He believes Nigeria will come out sronger if the National Assembly remains faithful and allows popular views to prevail in the on-going constitution review exercise.
Speaking at the People’s public session of the 1999 Constitution review forum organised by the three senators representing the state in the National Assembly, in Port Harcourt, Amaechi said, “it is important that the National Assembly carry us along in the process”.
Amaechi advocated for fiscal federalism, “we believe that if they move some of the funds to state governments, the citizens will be well protected”, arguing that though agitation for state creation was not bad, that some states were not viable and disclosed that the position of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on some burning issues would be made public after their forthcoming meeting.
On his part, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State sought a special status for the state because of its strategic importance to the nation. “If Lagos does not prosper, prosperity will be difficult for other parts of Nigeria,” Fashola said.
He also advocated that states should have their own police and be allowed a total control, management and creation of local government areas. Fashola, however, noted that the constitution itself was not an end, but a means to an end. “What Nigerians really want is not just a better document but a better life.”
Fashola said there should be true federalism, and that each state should be allowed to develop, based on its resources and ability, adding that the eventual overall prosperity of all the states will be the prosperity of the entire country. He reiterated the call for state police, noting that the current federal police structure lacked the capacity to effectively secure the entire country.
The governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola at one of the public hearings, said that the nation’s constitution was counterfeit and woven with fraudulent clauses that could not guarantee healthy development of Nigeria.
He observed that with the contents of the 1999 Constitution and its legal implications, true federalism and financial autonomy of federating units were being jettisoned, thus retarding socio-economic and political emancipation in the country.
Aregbesola, said in Osogbo, while addressing a cross section of people, civil society organisations and other stakeholders at the constitution amendment meeting, that the resolve of the House of Representatives to organise the interactive session was an afterthought.
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, in his contribution in Lafia called for the total abolition of joint state/local governments account and the state police from the proposed review of 1999 Constitution. He based his argument on the belief that it would ensure effective implementation of development projects at the grassroots level.
Similarly, the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, in Maiduguri, called for the review of the federal revanue allocation in favour of the state and local governments, as the governments were closest to the people.
He said “the constitutional provision under section 162(2) should be amended so as to allow flexibility to take care of political, economic and social forces and changes in the country.”
Shettima also called for the inclusion of defined roles for traditional rulers in the new constitution. He called for the recognition of the roles of traditional rulers in the Constitution for the development of the society. “If we feel our traditional rulers are not that important to government, why do we use them to help us in our campaigns against polio and other health challenges.
Why do we need their intervention on security issue, why should we consult them on governance and maintenance of peace and order in their domains?” Shettima queried. He said traditional institution had played prominent roles before and during colonial administration of their communities, recalling that “they were highly respected mobilisers of the people in support of government programmes and policies.”
The governor wondered why the traditional institution was given roles in the 1979 Constitution but omitted in the 1999 Constitution. Gov Shettima noted that traditional rulers had made immense contributions to the emergence of a united Nigeria socially, economically and politically. “Presently, traditional rulers and emirate councils are involved in security, tax collection, publicity and enlightenment campaigns in their areas of jurisdiction,” he disclosed even as he proposed that the funding of the traditional institution should come directly from the federation account.
In his submission, Governor Kayode Fayemi simply said he had no pre-stated position as the position of Ekiti people was his position. However, he said in the alternative to a sovereign national conference which has been the desire of many Nigerians, the peoples’ forum was an inevitable alternative.
Governor Fayemi said the people would have preferred a referendum but added that “since there is no provision for that (sovereign national conference) in the constitution, we’ll make do with what the National Assembly has given us.”
Amieyeofori Ibim
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.