The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on organisers of the planned August 1 nationwide protest to reconsider their demand for President Bola Tinubu to scrap the 1999 Constitution, describing the proposal as an impractical endeavour.
Following a closed-door meeting with the Forum of APC State Chairmen at the national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, the ruling party addressed the controversial issue.
For the past two decades, the need to amend the Nigerian Constitution has been a topic of heated debate among state actors and elder statesmen. Prominent voices such as Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and other notable figures have recently advocated for abandoning the 1999 Constitution, citing its lack of legitimacy.
However, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru asserted that the President cannot unilaterally discard the constitution he swore to uphold. This stance comes in response to one of the 15 demands by organisers of the proposed hunger strike protest.
Scheduled to run from August 1 to 15, the protest has already sparked tension and mixed reactions across Nigeria, trending on social media with hashtags like #EndBadGovernance and #TinubuMustGo.
Basiru emphasized that President Tinubu lacks the authority to unilaterally scrap the constitution. He explained, “On an intellectual basis, the National Working Committee and our party’s chairman reviewed the charter of demands. Most issues raised are political and pertain to constitutional amendments, not protests.
“Who will scrap the 1999 Constitution? The president, who is elected and sworn to uphold it? Even the right to protest is based on rights under the 1999 Constitution. Amendments require four-fifths of the National Assembly and two-thirds of State Assemblies, not presidential fiat.”
The APC also criticized the demand to abolish the Senate and retain only the House of Representatives for lawmaking. Basiru pointed out that this would require amending the current constitution, not discarding it entirely. He advised those seeking to cut governance costs to submit a memorandum and mobilize support within the National and State Assemblies for constitutional amendments.
Highlighting the potential dangers of the proposed protest, Basiru expressed concern over its revolutionary undertones. “The protest is titled #EndBadGovernance, suggesting an intent for revolution, which often leads to violence. Our country does not need violence or disruption, especially given the President’s current efforts. We urge Nigerians to recognize that the government will not permit violence against citizens.”
The APC’s stance underscores the complexity and challenges involved in any attempt to overhaul Nigeria’s constitutional framework, advocating for structured and lawful processes over radical measures.
