In the 25 years since Nigeria's return to democracy, the 1999 Constitution has undergone five amendments and billions of naira expended on the process.
This stark reality has raised questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of the constitutional amendment process in the country.
The constitutional amendment process has become a recurring phenomenon in Nigeria, with each attempt generating significant hype and expectation. However, the outcome has often been underwhelming, with few tangible results to show for it.
According to Sunday Vanguard findings, the Constitution has been altered five times - twice in 2010 under President Umaru Yar'Adua and thrice under President Muhammadu Buhari.
They include the first, second and third alterations of 2010, the fourth alteration of 2017 as well as the fifth alteration of 2023.
The constitutional review exercise under President Obasanjo was derailed in May 2006 over his purported third term ambition.
Former President Jonathan, on his part, vetoed the constitutional alteration bills in 2015 and advanced reasons for doing so in a seven-page letter read on the floor of the Senate on April 15, 2015.
Then-President said he could not sign the new proposals into law due to irregularities and an attempt by the lawmakers to violate the doctrine of Separation of Powers.
Among alterations of the Constitution signed into law in 2010, ex-President Yar'Adua put the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on First Line Charge in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation.
This gesture was similarly extended to the National Assembly and the Federal Judiciary.
The age qualification of INEC Chairman was reduced from 50 to 40 years and those of National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners reduced from 40 to 35 years.
It was also then that the number of judges at the Election Petition Tribunals was reduced from five to three and governorship election petition was made to now terminate at the Supreme Court rather than Court of Appeal where it used to end before 2011. Also, election petitions were now given a time limit of 180 days at the tribunal and 60 days each at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. It was also in the 2010 constitutional amendment that the National Industrial Court became the Court of Superior Records.
'Not-Too-Young-To-Run'
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On May 31, 2018, President Buhari signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill which reduced age qualifications for some political offices into law.
They include that of President from 40 to 35 years, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly from 30 to 25 years.
On June 8, 2018, Buhari signed four constitutional alteration bills into law.
They include Constitution Amendment Number 21 which relates to the determination of pre-election matters.
It has reduced the date and time of determining pre-election matters to ensure that pre-election matters in court do not get into the time of the elections and do not linger thereafter.
Slow pace
With billions of naira spent on the process, stakeholders said the slow pace of amendments has hindered the country's ability to adapt to changing circumstances and address emerging challenges.
