A historic two-day National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, convened by The Patriots—a coalition of elder statesmen, civic leaders, and intellectuals—ended Thursday in Abuja with a bold demand for a new people-driven constitution, true federalism, and the convocation of a national constituent assembly.
The summit, held from July 16 to 17, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton and Nicon Luxury Hotels, brought together a wide cross-section of Nigerian society. Delegates included representatives from civil society groups, professional bodies, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, the diaspora community, and persons with disabilities.
Led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the summit was organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG). Delegates critically examined Nigeria’s persistent governance crises and unanimously declared the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as fundamentally flawed and lacking legitimacy.
In a 22-point communiqué presented at the close of the summit, the delegates outlined a comprehensive roadmap to overhaul Nigeria’s governance structure and constitutional framework. The resolutions include:
The summit emphasized the urgent need for a new, inclusive, democratic constitution that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and corrects the failures of the current centralized system
Delegates called on the President to introduce an Executive Bill empowering INEC to conduct non-partisan elections for a Constituent Assembly. The resulting constitution should be subjected to a nationwide referendum before presidential assent.
The summit advocated a restructured federal system akin to Nigeria’s First Republic, allowing states greater autonomy and reducing the concentration of power at the center.
Proposals included restructuring Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, devolution of powers, a cost-effective unicameral legislature, independent judiciary systems at state level, and the creation of specialized courts for electoral, corruption, and terrorism cases.
The summit recommended the institutionalization of a single-day national election using mandatory BVAS accreditation and real-time electronic transmission of results. Independent candidacy and the outlawing of political cross-carpeting were also proposed.
With Nigeria’s bloated political structure seen as unsustainable, the summit called for constitutional caps on the number of ministers and political appointees.
Delegates stressed the need for a decentralized police force, separation of the offices of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and stricter enforcement mechanisms to deter corruption.
The summit urged constitutional guarantees for gender equity, the protection of minorities and vulnerable groups, access to education, and economic empowerment. Women, youths, and persons with special needs must be fully included in governance.
The summit strongly advocated for enfranchisement of the over 15 million Nigerians in the diaspora, citing their economic contributions and right to participate in national development.
With over 600,000 Nigerians killed between May 2023 and April 2024, delegates demanded the establishment of coastal and border security units, community-based policing, and equitable rotation of national security leadership.
Affirming Nigeria’s secular status, the summit called on governments at all levels to uphold religious neutrality in governance.
The summit declared that resource control and fiscal autonomy for states are essential for sustainable development and equitable growth.
In his closing remarks, Chief Anyaoku described the summit as “a turning point” and a rallying call for all Nigerians who seek a more just, equitable, and prosperous nation.
“This summit has articulated the hopes of millions of Nigerians. It is our belief that with sustained commitment, a new Nigeria is not only possible—it is inevitable,” he said.
He thanked delegates from across the 36 states and the diaspora for their participation and commitment to nation-building, expressing optimism that the summit’s resolutions would galvanize a national movement for constitutional and democratic renewal.
The communiqué concluded with a call to action, urging the Nigerian people, civil society, and political stakeholders to mobilize for the implementation of the summit’s resolutions. A new Nigeria, the summit asserted, can only emerge through collective determination and unwavering commitment to constitutional reform.
