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· Leading Nigerian activists, academics, and other professionals have joined hands to launch a new political movement ahead of the 2023 general elections
· The joint initiative namely National Consultative Front was announced on 1st July at the new group’s national secretariat, in Abuja.
After a month-long nationwide consultation and virtual meetings, leading Nigerian activists, academics, and other professionals, have joined hands to launch a new political movement ahead of the 2023 general elections. The joint initiative namely National Consultative Front was announced on 1st July at the new group’s national secretariat, in Abuja.
The thirty member group include former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; former deputy governor of the Central Bank, Obadiah Mailafia; Olisa Agbakoba; Femi Falana; Abubakar Umar; Oby Ezekwesili; Jibo Ibrahim; Yabagi Sanni; Nkoyo Toyo, Isa Aremu, Chidi Odinkalu, and Shehu Sani among others.
The National Consultative Front has stated in its Communique that they would embark on immediate mass mobilisation to bring about a new Peoples’ Constitution for a new Nigeria. It also announced that political constitution reforms will be citizens-driven and process-led for the benefit of all. The new movement proposes to demand and ensure that Chapter 2 of the present Constitution I.e. Fundamental Objectives & Directive Principles of State Policy becomes justiciable once and for all. It also urged for an immediate and vigorous campaign to reform election laws which have provided loopholes for opportunists to tamper with election results making voting irrelevant.
The members also decried the ongoing mindless massacre and kidnappings particularly in the North-west, North-east, Southern Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria by armed bandits and insurgents.
It may be recalled that a similar movement aimed at providing alternative political direction, prior to 2019 polls failed.
