ABUJA, Nigeria — The House of Representatives is set to hold a historic plenary session today to vote on 37 landmark constitutional alteration bills aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s political, judicial, security, and local governance frameworks.
The highly anticipated voting session on Thursday, June 11, 2026, follows months of rigorous committee reviews, stakeholder consultations, and public hearings coordinated by the House Committee on Constitution Review.
Okay News reports that the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has directed all lawmakers to be physically present for the electronic voting process. Given the structural weight of the legislation, each amendment bill requires a strict two-thirds majority vote from the 360-member house before it can advance to the Senate for harmonization and subsequently to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for ratification.
Chief among the security amendments is Bill No. 7, which seeks to legally decentralize national policing by removing the singular federal monopoly of the “Nigeria Police Force” to establish independent State Police systems. The Deputy Speaker confirmed that the proposal has gained major traction following extensive policy alignment with state governors, the Inspector General of Police, and the executive arm to ensure sub-national governments can directly confront regional banditry and terrorism.
On the electoral front, Bill No. 1 introduces Independent Candidacy into presidential, governorship, and legislative polls, breaking the long-standing monopoly of political parties by allowing unaffiliated individuals to contest if they secure verified endorsements from 10 percent of registered voters within their constituencies. To deepen inclusion, the bill grants a 50 percent nomination fee waiver to female candidates, which works alongside Bill No. 20—a temporary affirmative action measure creating special legislative seats for women via an electoral college framework.
The constitutional package also addresses local government autonomy, human rights, and institutional accountability. Key clauses under Bill No. 9 formally entrench local councils as a distinct, self-governing third tier of the federation. Furthermore, Bill No. 28 explicitly classifies the public parading of arrested suspects by security agencies as a form of torture and degrading treatment, legally prohibiting the practice. The green chamber will also vote on establishing a dedicated Electoral Offences Commission, placing the Armed Forces on independent first-line financial charges, and creating statutory 5 percent funding allocations for traditional rulers across the country.
