Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, on Tuesday unveiled a major push for inclusive constitutional reform, announcing plans for nationwide public hearings to give Nigerians a direct role in shaping the country’s next constitutional chapter.

At the same time, he firmly dispelled speculation about a possible 2027 presidential ambition, declaring unwavering loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Barau revealed that the zonal hearings on the constitutional review would take place on July 4 and 5 across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The initiative, he said, is designed to democratise the reform process and ensure grassroots participation.

“We are taking the Constitution review process to the doorsteps of Nigerians,” Barau stated. “This is about inclusive democracy. People who cannot travel to Abuja must still have a say in how their country is governed.”

According to Barau, the Senate committee has already received 59 constitutional amendment bills, covering issues such as state creation, local government reform, and restructuring. However, he stressed that the process remains open: “It is not limited to what we have received. Every Nigerian still has a chance to contribute.”

The zonal hearings will be held in Ikot Ekpene, Lagos, Enugu, Jos, Maiduguri, and Kano. The sessions will be chaired respectively by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the Deputy Chief Whip, the Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, and Senator Barau himself, who will host the North-West session in Kano.

Barau urged the media to drive public awareness about the hearings, stressing that without robust participation, “the review would lack true legitimacy.”

Rejects 2027 Campaign Posters

When asked about recent campaign posters linking him to the 2027 presidential race, Barau was unequivocal in his response: “I don’t know the people behind those campaigns. They are not acting on my behalf. This is not the time for politics. This is the time for governance.”

He dismissed such discussions as premature and unhelpful distractions, insisting that national energy should be directed toward supporting President Tinubu’s reform agenda.

“The President is working round the clock to tackle the challenges he inherited. He is my political leader — my father in this journey. I owe him everything, including my place in the Senate and my current office. My loyalty to him is total.”

As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seeks to consolidate its base amidst ongoing economic reforms, Barau’s public declaration of loyalty and rejection of political ambition is seen as a stabilising gesture in a politically sensitive time.

“When the time for politics comes, we will talk,” he said. “But for now, it’s about standing with Mr. President, serving the country, and doing the job the people elected us to do.”

With the upcoming zonal hearings poised to shape Nigeria’s constitutional future, Barau’s message was clear: national interest must come before personal ambition. He has thrown open the door for public input while closing the chapter — for now — on political speculation.