The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, Mr Benjamin Kalu, has declared that the country is currently in its most democratic era
Speaking at the House Committee on Constitutional Review’s Consultation with Leaders of Political Parties in Abuja, Kalu emphasised that political parties remain the backbone of democracy, noting their roles in recruiting candidates, mobilising voters, and connecting government with the governed.
“If constitutional amendments are to be legitimate, they must have your buy-in. If they are to be effective, they must address the challenges you face on the ground,” Kalu said. “We have invited you not as adversaries, but as partners in nation-building.”
Kalu revealed that the Committee had conducted zonal public hearings across the six geopolitical zones, collecting memoranda from thousands of Nigerians. He explained that before the Committee are critical amendment bills that would shape the trajectory of Nigerian democracy for future generations.
These bills, he said, include provisions to:
Guarantee women’s representation in legislative houses.
Grant financial autonomy to local governments.
Streamline the electoral process to reduce litigation and strengthen public confidence.
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“These are not abstract legal propositions,” Kalu stated. “They go to the heart of what it means to be a democracy. We all want a Nigeria where elections are free, fair, and credible; where women have equal representation; and where local governments work effectively.”
He reminded participants that constitutional amendments must secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and approval from two-thirds of State Houses of Assembly, stressing the need for broad, cross-party consensus.
”A Constitution is not just a legal document. It is a social contract a promise we make to each other about the kind of country we want to build,” Kalu said. “To sustain our democracy, we must empower women, strengthen local governments, and ensure credible elections.”
In his remarks, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr Yusuf Dantalle, represented by Mr Dipo Olayoku, commended the House Committee for the consultative engagement. He assured that political parties would deliberate and make proposals on key areas such as judicial and electoral reforms, women’s inclusion, state policing, and human rights.
Dantalle outlined IPAC’s major proposals to the 1999 Constitution, including:
Abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), transferring responsibility for local government elections to INEC.
Independent Appointment Committee (IAC) to appoint INEC leadership, reducing executive interference.
Restoration of political party funding with strict financial transparency mechanisms.
Establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders.
He added that IPAC supports the proposed bill on women’s representation, stressing that under-representation breeds marginalisation.
On her part, Mrs Amina Graham, President of the National Women Leaders Forum of Political Parties, described the meeting as a call to action, urging participants to make effective use of the platform to shape reforms that will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
