Nigeria TV Info 
Suspend Constitution Amendment, Seek Referendum, Olanipekun Tells National Assembly

Renowned legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun, has called on the National Assembly to suspend ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution, urging lawmakers instead to conduct a national referendum to determine the people’s preferred governance structure.

Speaking at a public lecture in Lagos, Olanipekun argued that continuous amendments to a “faulty and imposed” constitution will not address Nigeria’s structural challenges or foster genuine federalism. He maintained that a people-driven constitutional framework, endorsed through a referendum, is the only pathway to sustainable national unity and progress.

The respected jurist noted that several constitutional amendments since 1999 have failed to reflect the true aspirations of Nigerians, stressing that “you cannot continuously amend a document that lacks legitimacy from the people.”

He advised lawmakers to set up a constitutional conference involving representatives of ethnic nationalities, civil society groups, and the private sector, to draft a new constitution anchored on justice, equity, and accountability.

Olanipekun emphasized that true democracy requires the consent of the governed, adding that the 1999 Constitution—handed down by the military—cannot deliver the desired development or peace unless Nigerians are allowed to decide through a referendum.