As Nigeria looks towards the 2027 general elections, a prominent group of elder statesmen has issued a powerful call for constitutional rebirth. The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has directly appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to initiate the drafting of a new constitution, arguing that the current 1999 document is fundamentally flawed and unfit to serve as the foundation for credible elections.
A Direct Appeal for Legacy and Change
In an open letter dated 29 December 2025 and titled “Mr President, What Legacy Would You Leave Behind?”, the forum made its case. The letter was signed by the NCEF chairman, Dr. Samuel Danjuma Gani, a former Deputy Governor of Taraba State. The elders contend that the 1999 Constitution lacks legitimacy because it was neither negotiated by Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities nor ratified by a genuine Constituent Assembly.
They presented a stark ultimatum: “The 2027 election should not take place under the 1999 Constitution but under a new constitution.” They implored President Tinubu to seize this historic opportunity, stating that birthing a new constitution would be a lasting legacy, placing him alongside the framers of Nigeria’s historic Robertson, Mcpherson, and Lyttleton constitutions.
Root Cause: Democracy vs. Sharia Ideology
The NCEF’s critique extends beyond procedural legitimacy to a deep-seated ideological conflict. The elders identified the clash between Democracy and Sharia ideologies as the core crisis plaguing Nigeria. They argued that the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari saw the promotion of sectional religious interests over national unity, a trend they claim continues.
Based on this, the forum made a pointed recommendation to the Muslim North: revert to the Penal Code approved by the Sardauna and dismantle the structures supporting Sharia criminal law. They expressed being “aghast” at denials of a religiously motivated genocide against Christian populations in the North and Middle Belt regions, noting that NCEF has written over 121 papers on the incursion of Sharia into governance since its formation in 2015.
A Blueprint for Action Before 2027
The forum outlined a clear path forward for the Tinubu administration. Their primary demand is for the government to convene a conference of ethnic nationalities to re-negotiate Nigeria and produce a new, people-centric constitution before the 2027 elections.
They emphasized that the current national distress is a call for “sacrificial leadership” that prioritizes the common good over personal ambition. “Nigeria is calling for leadership that will set aside partisan politicking and focus on bringing a new Nigeria out of the current rubble induced by the unrestrained politics of religion,” the letter stated.
The NCEF, whose members include notable figures like Gen. Zamani Lekwot (Rtd) and retired Justice James Ogebe, concluded with a powerful reminder to the President: “History etches in gold the names of those who make a difference for good in their generation.” They urged him to decommission the 1999 Constitution immediately and lead the process that would finally give Nigeria a legitimate foundation for its future.
