2027 Elections Should Not Hold Under 1999 Constitution – Christian Elders

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, a group of elder statesmen under the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) is urging President Bola Tinubu to create a new constitution to oversee the electoral process, asserting that the 1999 constitution has proven inadequate for Nigeria’s needs.

They argued that the 1999 Constitution lacks legitimacy and should be immediately decommissioned to prevent the country from endorsing an illegitimate government every four years.

In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, titled: “Mr President, What Legacy Will You Leave Behind?” and signed by its chairman and former deputy governor of Taraba State, Dr Samuel Danjuma Gani, the NCEF also called on the Muslim-majority northern states to revert to the Penal Code established by Sardauna and dismantle Shari’a criminal law, asserting that the underlying cause of Nigeria’s crises lies in the conflict between democratic principles and Shari’a ideologies.

Other notable members of the NCEF include Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary), Dr Saleh Hussaini (Vice Chairman, North), Elder Shyngle Wigwe (Vice Chairman, South), Mrs Osaretin Demuren (Treasurer), Prof. Joseph Otubu, Dr. (Mrs) Kate Okparaeke, General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), and retired Justice of the Court of Appeal (JSC), James Ogebe.

Additional members include Elder Moses Ihonde, Elder Nat Okoro, Solomon Asemota (SAN), Elder Matthew Owojaiye, DIG P. L. Dabup, Sir John W. Bagu, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Prof. (Mrs) Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye, Dr Taiwo Idemudia (Diaspora), Elder Minso Gadzama, Apostle Bulus Musa Kewa, Admiral Peter Adeniyi (Rtd), Hon. Justice Goddy Anunihu (Rtd), Chief Ferdinand Anikwe (PhD), and Elder Sylvester Mbamali.

Gani stated, “The current distress in the country provides President Tinubu with the opportunity to offer solutions that will create enduring legacies for his administration. The root cause of Nigeria’s crises is the conflict between democratic and Shari’a ideologies.

“The Muslim North should revert to the Penal Code approved by the Sardauna and dismantle Shari’a criminal law. The 1999 constitution lacks legitimacy and should be decommissioned forthwith.

“The 2027 elections should not occur under the 1999 Constitution but under a new constitution. Nigeria should cease validating illegitimacy every four years. President Tinubu should initiate the creation of a new constitution as part of his legacy to Nigeria. This would place him alongside the authors of the Robertson, McPherson, and Lyttleton Constitutions.

“President Tinubu’s government should convene a conference of ethnic nationalities to renegotiate Nigeria and produce a new constitution before 2027.

“As Christian elders, we appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who bears the responsibility of guiding the state during this critical period, to consider our counsel in this brief communication. This moment demands sacrificial leadership that prioritises the common good over personal ambitions.

“Leaders who make sacrifices are the ones honoured by future generations. History immortalises those who effect positive change in their time. At this juncture, Mr President should reflect on the legacy he’d like to leave behind. In other words, what does President Tinubu want to be remembered for?

“Since 2015, NCEF has warned against the unchecked intrusion of religion into Nigeria’s political landscape. The eight years of President Buhari’s administration saw the prioritisation of sectarian religious interests over national interests, a trend that shows no signs of abating. It is this religious discrimination that continues to fuel genocide against Christian communities in the North and Middle Belt regions. The violence is now spreading across the country.”

According to the NCEF, the ongoing crisis in Nigeria offers the President an opportunity to distinguish himself as a noble statesman.

The organisation believes Tinubu should seek to transform the current challenges into opportunities, providing lasting solutions that will earn him the respect of future generations.

“Such a commitment is essential for swiftly resolving Nigeria’s current distress. The country requires leadership that transcends partisan politics and focuses on rebuilding Nigeria from the remnants left by unchecked political and religious influences.

“NCEF is appalled at the denial of religiously motivated genocide against Christian populations in Nigeria. Since its establishment in 2015, NCEF has produced over one hundred and twenty-one (121) documents addressing the encroachment of Sharia ideology into governance in Nigeria.

“The introduction of Sharia ideology into the 1999 Constitution created conflicting ideologies within Nigeria. Repeatedly, NCEF has cautioned that Nigeria is operating under two different ideologies and two sets of laws for its citizens. Nigeria is a secular state, and its national ideology is democracy,” Gani emphasised.

The letter concluded, “The 1999 Constitution (as amended) must be decommissioned immediately. It has failed the test of a true constitution for Nigeria, as it was neither negotiated by the ethnic nationalities nor passed through any Constituent Assembly. Its claim of ‘we the people…’ is not only false but also fraudulent. We cannot build a nation on fraud.

“The Sharia ideology must be relegated to ‘personal’ law, and all structures supporting Sharia ‘criminal law’ must be dismantled without delay. Mr President should convene a conference of the ethnic nationalities to renegotiate Nigeria and develop a new constitution of the people, by the people, for the people.’ We recommend that this be accomplished before the next elections in 2027.

“It would not serve Nigeria’s interests to conduct another election under a constitution that does not reflect the collective agreement of its citizens. Nigeria must no longer endorse illegitimacy every four years.”