Eminent Nigerians Push for Same-Day Elections, State Police, and New Constitution at National Summit

A powerful coalition of stakeholders, including elder statesmen, former governors, legal luminaries, and civil society advocates, has converged in Abuja to demand a radical overhaul of Nigeria’s governance framework, specifically advocating for same-day elections, the establishment of state police, and the adoption of an entirely new constitution.

These crucial demands were the focal points of the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, which commenced on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, and concluded today, Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The summit was organized by “The Patriots” in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG).

Call for a New Constitution: Chaired by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the summit’s most prominent resolution was the urgent need for a new, “people’s democratic constitution.” Speakers, including constitutional lawyer Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), argued that the existing 1999 Constitution, a product of military decree, is fundamentally flawed and incapable of fostering national unity and development in Nigeria’s pluralistic society.

Chief Anyaoku emphasized that for Nigeria’s stability and maximal development, its constitution must address its unique problems and be “formulated by elected representatives of its diverse people,” not merely amended. He highlighted issues like pervasive insecurity, weak infrastructure, and a “palpable mood of hopelessness” as evidence of the current constitution’s inadequacies.

However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, though acknowledging the need for amendments, maintained that the efficacy of any constitution ultimately depends on the integrity and commitment of its operators. Speaking in a letter read at the summit, Obasanjo argued that even a perfect constitution could be “perverted and distorted by the operators” if they remain selfish and lawless.

Advocacy for Same-Day Elections: Among the significant electoral reforms demanded, the summit advocated for the conduct of all general elections on a single day. This proposal, supported by a bill currently under consideration in the National Assembly, aims to streamline the electoral process, significantly reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and potentially increase voter turnout by reducing fatigue. Advocates also believe it would shorten the period of political tension and conflict associated with staggered elections.

Push for State Police: Stakeholders also lent strong support to the establishment of state police forces. This long-debated reform is seen as critical to addressing Nigeria’s escalating security challenges. Proponents argue that state policing would enable faster response times, improve local intelligence gathering, and foster better community integration, thereby making law enforcement more effective and responsive to localized threats. The urgency was highlighted by recent massacres in states like Benue, where the limitations of the centralized federal police structure became painfully evident. Calls were made to amend the constitution to move policing from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List.

The summit’s resolutions, jointly read by Professors Maxwell Gidado and Mike Ozekhome (SAN), called for a Constituent Assembly whose members would be elected on a non-partisan basis, alongside representatives of special interest groups, to draft this new “People’s Democratic Constitution.” This draft would then be subjected to a national referendum before being presented to the National Assembly.

The demands from this high-level summit underscore a broad consensus among a significant segment of Nigerian society that fundamental structural and operational changes are imperative for the nation to achieve true federalism, ensure security, and foster inclusive development.