Former Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has declared that the process of impeaching a sitting president in Nigeria is practically impossible under the current constitution. Speaking on Monday at a national dialogue, Dogara suggested that the country’s political system should shift to a parliamentary structure, a change he believes is essential for effective governance and political accountability.
Dogara, a seasoned lawyer, explained that the 1999 Constitution provides no viable mechanism for the impeachment of a president, even in the face of serious wrongdoing. According to him, Section 143 of the constitution, which outlines the impeachment process, is flawed and impractical. “In Nigeria, Section 143 doesn’t offer any practical framework for impeachment. At the end of the day, all the National Assembly’s efforts are handed over to a panel of politicians they call people of impeccable character,” he stated.
The former speaker expressed skepticism about the integrity and fairness of the impeachment process, criticizing the panel responsible for deciding a president’s fate. “I don’t know where we can find these ‘angels.’ Their determination is final and cannot be challenged by the National Assembly or any court in Nigeria,” Dogara continued. He highlighted the problematic nature of the system, noting that the panel is appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who himself is selected by the president. “And these seven people of ‘impeccable character’ are appointed by the CJN, who is appointed by the president—so how can this system work in reality?” he asked.
The remarks by Dogara come as part of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s political structure. The national dialogue was organized by a group of lawmakers advocating for a transition to a parliamentary system. Dogara, who supports the initiative, noted that the current presidential system was copied from the United States without sufficient regard for Nigeria’s unique political and social context. He argued that the shift to a parliamentary system could improve governance and political accountability in the country.
The dialogue also featured contributions from Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of Interior. Aregbesola, who has been vocal about the need for political reform in Nigeria, painted a bleak picture of the nation’s current situation. “We are deep in trouble,” he declared, referencing the nation’s economic, political, and spiritual decline. He warned that unless there was radical intervention, Nigeria could face serious unrest.
Aregbesola further emphasized the unsustainable nature of having a single leader govern a population of over 220 million people. “The idea of a single man to govern 220 million Nigerians is a joke,” he said, underscoring the difficulties of centralizing power in one individual. He added that a lack of opportunities for the people and failure to address their grievances could eventually lead to a revolt. “Whatever does not give appropriate opportunity or rights to the people will be resisted, no matter what you do. If other things fail, people can revolt,” he cautioned.
