The Eminent Patriots of Nigeria, a coalition of elder statesmen, intellectuals, and civic leaders, convened a National Constitutional Summit in Abuja, where delegates called for sweeping reforms, including a new people-driven constitution, the establishment of state police, and the adoption of single-day elections. The summit, held on Friday, July 18, 2025, rejected the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as unrepresentative and military-imposed, demanding a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s governance framework.

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, reading the summit’s communiqué, outlined the delegates’ resolutions. They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to submit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize elections for a non-partisan Constituent Assembly. This assembly, comprising elected delegates and representatives of special interest groups, would draft a new democratic constitution to be ratified through a national referendum.

“The 1999 Constitution is deeply flawed and inadequate for addressing Nigeria’s pluralism and challenges,” Anyaoku stated. “We need a new, inclusive constitution anchored on true federalism to ensure stability and development.”

The summit advocated for a return to a federal system akin to Nigeria’s First Republic, with autonomous federating units and devolved powers to reduce the concentration of authority in the presidency. Delegates criticized the current presidential system as costly and prone to abuse, proposing a cost-effective, less centralized governance model. They also called for a streamlined federal legislature, arguing that the two-chamber system is unsustainably expensive.

On judicial reforms, the summit proposed decentralizing the judicial system, allowing each federating unit to establish courts up to the Court of Appeal, with the Supreme Court handling only constitutional and intergovernmental disputes. It also recommended separating the roles of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice at both federal and state levels to ensure independence.

Electoral reforms were a key focus, with delegates advocating for single-day elections to reduce costs, save time, and minimize fraud, citing Brazil and Ghana as successful examples. They demanded amendments to the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution to make the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory. The summit also proposed provisions for independent candidacy and a ban on defection, declaring that elected officials who switch parties mid-tenure should lose their seats.

On security, the summit endorsed the creation of state police to address pervasive internal security challenges and called for equitable rotation of leadership in national security agencies. It reaffirmed Nigeria’s secular status, urging both federal and state governments to uphold this principle.

The summit’s resolutions reflect a consensus on the need for urgent constitutional and structural reforms to address Nigeria’s governance, security, and electoral challenges, with a focus on fostering equity, efficiency, and inclusivity.