Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has made a passionate call for the birth of a new Nigeria governed by a truly democratic constitution. Speaking at the conclusion of the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, held from July 16 to 17, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Anyaoku declared, “The dawn of a new, just, equitable and peaceful Nigeria is nigh.”
The summit, organised by “The Patriots” and the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG), brought together a wide range of delegates from across civil society, youth and women organisations, religious and traditional institutions, professional bodies, ethnic nationalities, and the Nigerian diaspora. Participants all agreed on one urgent demand: Nigeria needs a brand new people-driven Constitution — not another amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
Delegates described the current Constitution as fundamentally flawed and imposed by the military without input from the Nigerian people. They agreed that only a new Constitution anchored on true federalism, equity, justice, and inclusion can truly reflect the will and diversity of Nigeria.
To achieve this, the summit called on the President to sponsor an Executive Bill to the National Assembly that will empower INEC to conduct elections into a Constituent Assembly. The Assembly, made up of elected non-partisan members and representatives of special interest groups, will be tasked with producing a people’s Constitution. That new Constitution must then be subjected to a referendum for approval by Nigerians before presidential assent.
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The summit resolved that Nigeria must return to genuine federalism with strong autonomous regions as in the First Republic. Participants agreed that the current presidential system is too expensive and should be replaced with a more cost-effective and people-oriented model. They also insisted that the country be geographically restructured to reflect true federalism, with powers devolved from the presidency to federating units.
The summit argued that the two-chamber National Assembly is too costly to maintain, and proposed a streamlined, more efficient legislative system. It also recommended that each state should have its own court hierarchy up to the Court of Appeal, while the Supreme Court should be reserved for constitutional and inter-governmental disputes.
On justice delivery, delegates stressed the need for special courts to handle corruption, terrorism, and electoral matters. They also called for the separation of the roles of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to ensure the appointment of non-partisan legal officers.
The summit demanded sweeping electoral reforms. They proposed that all elections should be conducted in a single day to reduce cost and fraud. They also insisted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results should be made mandatory under the Electoral Act and Constitution.
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Independent candidates must be allowed to run for office under the new Constitution. Also, any elected official who defects from the party on which they were elected should automatically lose their seat.
The cost of governance was identified as a major burden. Delegates said the current system is over-bloated and unsustainable, recommending that the number of ministries, commissioners, advisers, and political appointees at both federal and state levels be drastically reduced. Ministries should not exceed 15, and government agencies should be cut down to one-quarter of the current number.
On corruption, the summit said the existing centralised constitutional structure has enabled widespread impunity. They demanded police and judicial reforms, with strict punishment for offenders to deter corruption.
Delegates noted that over 20 million Nigerian children are out of school and more than 130 million citizens live in multidimensional poverty. They said only a new people’s Constitution can deliver lasting solutions to poor infrastructure, economic mismanagement, and environmental neglect.
On inclusion, the summit demanded stronger constitutional protections for women, youths, persons with disabilities, and minorities. The Constitution must promote gender equity in citizenship and ensure protection of women and the girl child against abuse and discrimination.
Delegates also urged the Federal Government to establish a legal framework for Nigerians in the diaspora — currently estimated at over 15 million — to participate in elections, citing their huge contributions to the national economy through remittances.
The summit raised concern over national security, noting that over 600,000 Nigerians were killed between May 2023 and April 2024. They highlighted the collapse of border security and widespread circulation of illegal arms. Delegates proposed the creation of border and coastal security forces, alongside community-based border policing.
The summit affirmed that Nigeria must remain a secular state and that government must not promote any religion. They also called for urgent legislation to allow the creation of state police to tackle internal security threats.
Each state, they said, should be allowed to have its own Constitution in addition to the Federal Constitution, as was practiced during the First Republic. Finally, the summit called for true fiscal federalism and resource control, given Nigeria’s natural resource abundance across all regions.
In conclusion, Chief Anyaoku thanked all delegates, both physically present and those who joined virtually, for their commitment to building a better Nigeria. He said the energy and support from across the country and beyond shows that the time for a new Nigeria is now.
“Together,” he said, “we shall live to see that new, prosperous Nigeria where no child is left behind and where no man and woman is oppressed.”
