Calls grow for referendum amid dispute over Constitution reform
A renewed push for a referendum in Nigeria’s Constitution has sparked nationwide debate among legal experts, civil society groups, and regional organisations. Many describe the current system as elite-driven and undemocratic, calling for a people-endorsed Constitution that reflects true national consensus. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, recently described the absence of a referendum clause in the 1999 Constitution as a major flaw. His remarks reignited public concern over how Nigeria’s constitutions have historically been imposed without popular ratification. Since independence, no Nigerian constitution has ever been approved through a national referendum. Under the current arrangement, amendments require the support of two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly. Critics argue that this legislative process excludes the citizens whose lives the laws govern. Groups such as Afenifere, Yoruba Ronu, PANDEF, and […]