Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the review of the 1999 Constitution being embarked upon by the National Assembly will guarantee the evolution of a more just, united, and forward-looking federation.
Akpabio stated this at the South-South Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
DAILY POST reports that the exercise would be held simultaneously in five geopolitical zones across the country.
According to a a statement by his Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong, the Senate President said the event was not merely a formality.
“It is a democratic rite—a solemn moment in which the people, not politicians alone, speak into the soul of the nation. It is an affirmation that in a democracy, every voice counts.
“Therefore, the review of our Constitution is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. It is not a complaint against the past, but a commitment to the future. We amend not to abandon, but to realign—to adapt our national charter to the changing realities, dreams, and demands of the good people of Nigeria,”; Akpabio said.
The former Akwa-Ibom state governor said every Nigerian is a stakeholder in the country’s democracy.
He further stated that the public hearing was a testament to the Senate’s unwavering belief that truth emerges not from silence, but from dialogue; not from monologue, but from the aggregation of honest opinions.
Also speaking, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, emphasized the significance of the review in Nigeria’s democratic journey that must lead to a restructuring of the country.
“This zonal public hearing is not a mere procedural step in legislative activity. It is, in truth, an important moment in our democratic journey,”; the governor said.
