By Citizen Bolaji O. Akinyemi
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s leading socio-cultural organisations and the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) appear to be converging around what they consider as the country’s most urgent national question: the need for a new constitutional order founded on true federalism.
At a strategic meeting held in Abuja on 28 July 2026, the Chairman of the National Christian Elders Forum, Dr. Samuel Danjuma Gani, CON, addressed leaders of Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Middle Belt Forum and PANDEF, urging them to forge a common front in pursuit of constitutional restructuring before the 2027 general elections.
The meeting followed an earlier engagement between the groups in March 2026, where discussions centred on two critical issues—the 2027 elections and the necessity of producing what the NCEF described as a genuine “people’s constitution.”
Constitution Before Elections
Dr. Gani argued that Nigeria’s current constitutional framework, commonly referred to as the 1999 Constitution (as amended), remains fundamentally a military decree enacted to facilitate a transition from military to civilian rule rather than a constitution negotiated and adopted by the Nigerian autochthonic people who ought to be the federating units of the country.
According to him, repeated amendments of the military document by the National Assembly have failed to address the foundational defects of the document. Instead, he maintained that the country requires an entirely ‘new’ constitutional framework that reflects the aspirations and identities of Nigeria’s autocththonic ethnic nationalities.
The NCEF contends that the present constitutional arrangement has become increasingly incapable of addressing Nigeria’s persistent political instability, insecurity and recurring agitations across the federation for restructuring.
Return to Genuine Federalism
Central to the Forum’s presentation was the recommendation that Nigeria should draw from the principles of the 1963 Republican Constitution, which it described as the only constitution negotiated through broad bottom-top consultation among Nigeria’s autochthonic ethnic groups, which was championed by the founding leaders.
The Forum argued that the 1963 Constitution recognised true federalism by allowing the federating units substantial autonomy while maintaining a central federal government. It suggested that the framework could serve as the ‘new’ constitutional foundation upon which a modern Nigerian federation can be rebuilt, subject to necessary amendments reflecting present-day realities.
The NCEF further maintained that governance should be reorganised around Nigeria’s autochthonic ethnic nationalities rather than the three-tier military-created composite administrative structure that presently comprises the Federal Government, 36 states and 774 local government areas.
Building a Wider National Coalition
Perhaps the most significant political outcome of the meeting was the proposal to broaden the constitutional conversation beyond Southern and Middle Belt interests.
The Forum urged Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, PANDEF and the Middle Belt Forum to actively engage other stakeholders, particularly organisations such as the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), with a view to building a national consensus around true federalism.
In addition, the NCEF also proposed a broader alliance involving advocacy organisations that have consistently campaigned for constitutional restructuring; such as Movement for National Reformation (MNR), The Rebirth Group (TRG), Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS), and The Patriots.
The NCEF recommendation reflects an emerging strategy to consolidate diverse reform measures into a coordinated national platform.
A Defining Question for 2027
One of the Forum’s most consequential recommendations was that Nigeria should avoid conducting the 2027 elections under the present military-imposed constitutional framework if meaningful reforms are to be achieved.
The NCEF proposed that the National Assembly and the Presidency should take immediate steps towards restoring the constitutional principles embodied in the 1963 Republican Constitution while facilitating the emergence of a truly negotiated constitution owned by the Nigerian autochthonic people.
While acknowledging that such a proposal would require significant political will, the Forum argued that delaying constitutional restructuring could deepen the country’s existing governance and security challenges.
Beyond Electoral Politics
The Abuja meeting demonstrated that constitutional reform is gradually becoming a central item on Nigeria’s pre-2027 political agenda.
Although elections remain important, the conversations among Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, PANDEF, the Middle Belt Forum and the National Christian Elders Forum suggest that an increasing number of national stakeholders believe that the quality of governance ultimately depends on the constitutional framework upon which the nation is built.
Whether these consultations translate into a broad national consensus remains to be seen. However, the alignment of these influential socio-cultural organisations around constitutional restructuring signals that the debate over Nigeria’s future may no longer be confined to election campaigns alone.
If sustained, this emerging coalition could significantly shape the national discourse leading to 2027, placing the question of constitutional legitimacy alongside the contest for political power itself.
