2027 polls won’t derail constitutional amendment, Senate assures

The Senate has assured Nigerians that the ongoing constitutional amendment process will be concluded before the expiration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2027, amid growing concerns that the exercise could suffer the fate of previous unsuccessful attempts at restructuring the country.

The assurance followed fears in some quarters that the constitutional review process may not be completed before the 2027 general elections, raising concerns about another failed amendment exercise and the possible loss of billions of naira committed to the process.

Critics have expressed concern that the ongoing amendment could be heading for another round of failure, particularly as political activities and preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the fears in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, saying the Senate leadership remained committed to concluding the proposed amendments within the lifespan of the current Assembly.

He also said the recently passed Electoral Act had addressed issues relating to the conduct of the January 2027 general elections, stressing that the expiration of the 10th National Assembly would come months after the polls.

Adaramodu said, “The proposed constitution amendments, already started by the 10th National Assembly, shall be passed in the life of this current Assembly.

“However, January is not the terminal date of the 10th National Assembly, but June 2027.

“The Electoral Act, recently passed, has taken care of the January 2027 general elections.”

The constitutional amendment process is expected to be one of the major legislative undertakings of the 10th National Assembly, with several proposals on governance, political restructuring and other aspects of Nigeria’s constitutional framework expected to undergo consideration.

Constitutional amendments in Nigeria, however, require extensive legislative procedures, including approval by the National Assembly and endorsement by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

Previous constitutional review exercises have generated significant public debate and consumed substantial public resources, with several proposals failing to secure the required level of support.

The Senate’s assurance also comes days after the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections would not prevent the National Assembly from carrying out its legislative responsibilities.

Akpabio had said lawmakers would continue to perform their constitutional duties despite increasing political consultations and activities ahead of the next general elections.

The Senate President spoke with journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, according to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom.

With political parties and aspirants gradually intensifying consultations and preparations ahead of the elections, concerns have been raised about whether electioneering activities could affect legislative and other government responsibilities.

But Akpabio dismissed such concerns, saying members of the National Assembly had the capacity to balance their political activities with the mandate for which they were elected.

The latest assurance by the Senate leadership suggests that lawmakers intend to sustain work on the constitutional amendment process even as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.

Whether the proposed amendments will secure the required approvals before the expiration of the 10th Assembly, however, will depend largely on the pace of legislative consideration and the support of the state Houses of Assembly.