Arowosegbe, Jacob O.2022-03-102022-03-102022-03Arowosegbe, J.O. Revisiting the legitimacy question of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution. Global Constitutionalism , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , March 2022 , pp. 27-54, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045381721000162.2045-3817 (print)2045-3825 (online)10.1017/S2045381721000162http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84433This article revisits the legitimacy question as it touches the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, bringing to the discourse a review and application of pertinent theoretical perspectives on constitution making and constitutional legitimacy. This theoretical and pragmatic approach introduces a refreshing angle to the debate, revealing the paucity of any attempt to ascribe any legitimacy claim to a constitution with a doubtful normative claim and fraudulent attribution of its source and legitimacy to the people. The author finds the consent basis of constitutional legitimacy as most attractive to a divided state like Nigeria, and concludes by advocating the adoption of a blend of the principles of the constituent assembly and post sovereign constitution-making models for the production of a new people-driven and inclusive constitution to meet the needs of the Nigerian people.en© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University PressConstitution makingConstitutional legitimacyNigerian ConstitutionEthnic divisionsSovereign national conferencePostprint Article