Anyaoku, Civil Society Leaders to Submit Draft Constitution to Tinubu, National Assembly at Emergency Summit on Nigeria’s Democratic Future
A landmark move toward constitutional reform is underway in Nigeria as former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and a coalition of prominent civil society leaders and elder statesmen prepare to submit a new draft constitution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly.
The submission will take place during an emergency national summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, scheduled from Tuesday, July 15 to Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Abuja. The summit is being organised under the joint auspices of The PATRIOTS—a group of distinguished elder statesmen—and the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG).
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Summit Joint Secretariat, led by Olawale Okunniyi, said the current 1999 Constitution has outlived its purpose and legitimacy, describing it as a major obstacle to effective governance, true federalism, and national development.
According to the organisers, the summit will convene a broad coalition of national icons, former presidents, governors, intellectuals, legal luminaries, and civic leaders. Among the keynote speakers and participants are:
- Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, CFR – former Commonwealth Secretary-General
- Prof. Wole Soyinka – Nobel Laureate
- Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd.) – former Defence Minister
- Prof. Ango Abdullahi – Northern Elders Forum convener
- Mallam Tanko Yakasai – First Republic statesman
- Prof. Ibrahim Gambari – former UN diplomat and ex-Chief of Staff to President Buhari
- Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd.) – former Foreign Minister
- Chief Mamman Osuman, SAN – legal expert
- Amb. Godknows Igali – diplomat and scholar
- Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN – rights advocate
- Obong Victor Attah – former Governor, Akwa Ibom
- Sen. Azuta Mbata – former lawmaker
- Prof. Akin Oyebode, SAN – constitutional theorist
- Comrade Joe Ajaero – NLC President
- Amb. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu – legacy activist
- Dr. Oby Ezekwesili – public policy advocate
- Barr. Femi Falana, SAN – human rights lawyer
- Mallam Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser
The organisers say the summit is designed to be an inclusive platform to galvanise national consensus around a “citizen-owned” constitution.
The proposed constitution comes in response to decades-long agitation for structural reforms to address the contradictions and inefficiencies of the 1999 Constitution, which was promulgated at the end of military rule without popular consultation.
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Critics of the current constitution argue that it promotes a pseudo-federal system, encourages over-centralisation of power in Abuja, limits state and local autonomy, undermines institutional development, and fails to reflect the multi-ethnic realities of Nigeria.
According to the statement by Okunniyi:
“The 1999 Constitution, enacted in the twilight of military rule without extensive public consultation, has long been faulted for entrenching a unitary system that stifles federalism, undermines local governance, and fails to reflect Nigeria’s multi-ethnic, pluralistic realities.”
The draft document to be presented is expected to contain extensive reforms on:
- True federalism: Greater devolution of powers to the states and local governments
- Resource control: Equitable revenue-sharing and increased regional economic autonomy
- Electoral integrity: Independent INEC structure and judicial oversight of elections
- Judicial independence: Financial and administrative autonomy for the judiciary
- Security reform: Legal provisions for state police and community-based policing
- Civic rights: Expanded Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties and minority identities
- Accountability: Stronger checks and balances among the executive, legislature, and judiciary
The summit organisers were quick to dismiss public cynicism, assuring Nigerians that this would not be another unproductive gathering of elites. Instead, they characterised the summit as a strategic turning point toward a new political arrangement for Africa’s most populous country.
“This summit is not just another political jamboree,” the statement noted. “It is a deliberate and inclusive national call to action. Its principal objective is to forge a new constitution that empowers Nigerians, strengthens institutions, promotes electoral justice, protects minority rights, and enables broad-based development at all levels.”
Upon presentation of the draft constitution, the summit is expected to adopt a communiqué urging President Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to consider the draft bill as a legitimate blueprint for restructuring Nigeria.
However, the path to enacting a new constitution remains politically and legally complex. Constitutional replacement in Nigeria requires legislative action by the National Assembly, two-thirds approval by the State Houses of Assembly, and, some argue, a referendum by the Nigerian people.
While President Tinubu has occasionally voiced support for constitutional restructuring, his administration has yet to take concrete steps toward reform.
Civil society activists and youth groups have been advised to remain engaged in post-summit advocacy, including regional public hearings, digital mobilization campaigns, and sustained political pressure to see the draft move beyond symbolic submission.
Reactions have begun to pour in from various sectors of society. While many have hailed the summit as a historic opportunity, others remain skeptical.
Dr. Nnenna Agbim, a political economist and commentator based in Enugu, described the event as “long overdue,” adding:
“The current structure has been a bottleneck to everything from state development to justice delivery. A people-led constitution is the way forward.”
Comrade Yahuza Haruna, a youth leader from Kano, expressed cautious optimism:
“I hope this will not end up in the archives like previous reports. But if civil society can sustain momentum, maybe we’ll see real change in our lifetime.”
Some critics, however, remain unconvinced. Alhaji Musa Bature, a former member of a constitutional review committee, dismissed the exercise as “elite theatre,” insisting that any legitimate process must begin with a national referendum.
As Nigeria battles insecurity, economic downturn, rising inequality, and ethnic tensions, many believe a new constitutional framework could be the keystone to national renewal.
The question now is whether the political class is ready to embrace transformative change—or whether the draft constitution will join a long list of reform proposals shelved by history.
Observers will be watching closely as the summit kicks off Tuesday, with high expectations that Nigeria may finally be ready to confront and fix the foundational defects in its democracy.