In what is being hailed as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democratic future, a high-powered constitutional summit, The National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, is set to kick off in Abuja from Tuesday, July 15 to Thursday, July 17, 2025.
Convened by The PATRIOTS in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG), the three-day event will bring together an array of Nigeria’s most respected elder statesmen, political icons, legal luminaries, civil society leaders, former Presidents, and serving as well as former Governors.
Their mission: to present a Draft Legislative Bill for a New Constitution of Nigeria alongside stakeholders’ resolutions to both the Presidency and the National Assembly.
Themed “Actualising a Constitutional Democracy That Works for All in Nigeria,” the summit is designed as an emergency national intervention, seeking to replace the current 1999 Constitution—widely criticized for its unitary structure—with a new people-driven framework that reflects the country’s diversity, aspirations, and federal character.
The summit is being chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and Chair of The PATRIOTS. The Draft Bill to be presented is the outcome of extensive nationwide consultations and dialogue involving a broad spectrum of Nigerians.
Among the eminent Nigerians scheduled to speak or participate are Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Mallam Tanko Yakasai, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Barrister Femi Falana, SAN, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Amb. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, and Comrade Joe Ajaero, among others.
The summit’s organising committee is co-chaired by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State, and Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Sokoto State. The Summit Resolutions Committee is led by prominent constitutional lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
Addressing journalists ahead of the summit, Sir Olawale Okunniyi, Head of the Summit Joint Secretariat, described the gathering as “a non-partisan, cross-generational and cross-regional forum for a collective re-imagination of Nigeria’s future.”He noted that the summit would offer Nigerians “a rare opportunity to shape a new legal foundation capable of unlocking development, promoting equity, and securing national cohesion.”
The current 1999 Constitution, which emerged from the end of military rule without broad consultation, has faced longstanding criticism for concentrating power at the centre, stifling local governance, and failing to adequately represent Nigeria’s plural realities.
Stakeholders argue that many of the country’s most persistent challenges—from insecurity and mass unemployment to poor service delivery and economic stagnation—are rooted in the structural limitations of the existing constitution.
According to the conveners, the new draft constitution aims to:
- Strengthen federalism and decentralize power;
- Protect minority rights and promote social inclusion;
- Ensure electoral justice and institutional independence;
- Improve governance transparency and accountability;
- Enable grassroots development and equitable resource control.
The summit has issued an open invitation to all stakeholders—government institutions, political parties, civil society organizations, professional groups, and the media—to attend, support, and contribute to this historic dialogue.
“This is not just another political event,” said Okunniyi. “It is a national call to action, driven by the urgent need to build a functional and fair constitutional democracy for all Nigerians.”
Sagebitsonline will provide continuous coverage of the summit proceedings throughout the week. Stay tuned for updates, expert commentary, and interviews with key participants.
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