Elders under the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate the drafting of a new constitution, asserting that the 1999 Constitution lacks legitimacy and should be replaced before the 2027 general elections.
Eko Hot News reports that the call was made in an open letter titled “Mr President, What Legacy Would You Leave Behind?” signed by the forum’s chairman, Dr Samuel Danjuma Gani, and other senior members of the group
The elders argued that the 1999 Constitution was not negotiated by Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities nor produced through a genuine constituent assembly, rendering its opening claim of “We the people” fraudulent and lacking a democratic foundation.
In the letter, the forum stated that holding another national election under the current constitution would amount to “validating illegitimacy every four years.” It urged Tinubu to convene a national conference of ethnic nationalities to renegotiate the nation’s political foundation.
The group also recommended that the proposed new constitution be completed and implemented before the 2027 elections, emphasising that only a people-driven charter would reflect Nigeria’s diversity and address long-standing structural challenges.
Additionally, the NCEF made a controversial appeal concerning legal systems in northern states, calling for the dismantling of Sharia law systems in favour of the Penal Code, which they said would resolve conflicts arising from the coexistence of multiple legal frameworks.
The elders argued that Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity and instability are rooted in conflicts between democratic governance and parallel legal systems, pointing to the need for a unified national framework grounded in secular principles
They further accused successive governments of allowing religion to dominate governance, which they linked to violence against Christian communities in the northern and Middle Belt regions.
“As Christian elders, we appeal to President Tinubu to rise above personal ambitions and think about the legacy he would leave behind,” the forum said, highlighting the current national distress as an opportunity for transformative leadership.
The elders stressed that Nigeria has endured decades of political and social crises under the 1999 Constitution, and insisted that only a constitution born out of broad national consensus could resolve the deep-rooted issues.
The call adds to ongoing debates within Nigeria about constitutional reform, with various civil society groups and legal experts arguing for greater public participation in crafting the country’s foundational legal document ahead of future elections.
