Amid growing pressure from activists and political voices calling for a total constitutional reset, Senator Ned Nwoko has taken a firm stance against discarding Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
Representing Delta North in the National Assembly, the lawmaker insists that the current constitution remains functional and reformable.
In a candid appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday morning, Nwoko pushed back against the rising tide of reformist voices, stating plainly: “Personally, I do not subscribe to the idea that we should throw away the current constitution and create an entirely new one.”
He continued, “It’s a workable document, and it has been guiding what we are doing in Nigeria so far.”
Nwoko acknowledged the document’s imperfections but emphasized that no constitution is flawless — not even globally.
“There cannot be any perfect constitution anywhere in the world,” he said. “All you can do is propose amendments and hope that those amendments go through so that whatever the wishes of the people are can be reflected.”
His comments land squarely in the middle of an ongoing national conversation.
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Calls for a new constitution have surged in recent months, with some civil society organizations and prominent political figures arguing that the 1999 Constitution — born during Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule — no longer reflects the country’s complex governance needs.
Critics often argue that the current constitution is overly centralized and lacks provisions that adequately support state autonomy and accountability.
For them, patching up the document with amendments is no longer enough — a complete rewrite is necessary.
But for Senator Nwoko, the better path forward lies in thoughtful, incremental reform rather than starting from scratch.
His position underscores a more conservative view on constitutional development — one that values stability and continuity over radical change.
Whether his stance will gain traction in the current political climate remains to be seen.