New Constitution: Senate urges ‘The Patriots’ to present proposals at forthcoming public hearing

The Senate has invited the Emeka Anyaoku-led group, The Patriots, to take advantage of the upcoming public hearing on constitutional reforms to present its recommendations for a new constitution.

The Patriots had recently renewed their call for a fresh constitution, insisting that the 1999 Constitution is inadequate and has failed to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges, making a complete overhaul necessary.

Responding to the group’s position during an interaction with journalists in Ilawe-Ekiti, his hometown, Senate Spokesman Yemi Adaramodu said the National Assembly remains open to constitutional review and welcomes input from all Nigerians.

“We urge our patriotic Patriots to avail themselves of the opportunities that are going to be open to everyone,” Adaramodu stated. “We welcome contributions from elders, professionals, political leaders, traditional rulers, youth and women’s groups, civil society organisations, and even Nigerians in the Diaspora.”

He explained that once the report-gathering process is complete, the Senate and House of Representatives will jointly hold a comprehensive public hearing where all stakeholders – both proponents and opponents of proposed changes – can present their cases.

“After the hearings, both chambers will sit together to decide which requests are genuine. The final document, whether a brand-new constitution or an amended one, will reflect the collective will of Nigerians, not just the opinion of a single group,” he said, stressing that lawmakers will prioritise national interest over ethnic or partisan considerations.

On demands for state creation, Adaramodu disclosed that the Senate has received 61 formal requests from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. He emphasised that such proposals will undergo rigorous scrutiny before any recommendation is made.

“State creation is a serious matter that requires auditing, demographic, geographic, and historical data,” he explained. “In some cases, even within the requesting states, there is no full consensus. All these factors must be weighed carefully. At present, no state has been recommended for creation. We can only determine the final position after the public hearings are concluded.”

Adaramodu assured that the process will be handled with integrity, free from bias or personal interest, and aimed solely at strengthening Nigeria’s unity and governance framework.