‎Former Lawmakers Adopt Tinubu for 2027

‎Former Lawmakers Adopt Tinubu for 2027
‎Call for Presidency to Return North in 2031
‎‎The forum passed a vote of “absolute confidence” in President Tinubu’s leadership

‎The National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general election, while also calling for the formal entrenchment of rotational presidency in Nigeria’s Constitution.

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‎Eko Hot Blog reports that the endorsement was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s national summit themed “National Unity and Nation Building; Beyond 2031,” held on Saturday in Abuja. The communiqué was presented by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Babangida Nguroje.

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‎The forum passed a vote of “absolute confidence” in President Tinubu’s leadership and unanimously adopted him as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election. It said the decision was informed by the need to preserve national unity and political stability.

‎Beyond electoral endorsement, the NFFL urged constitutional amendments to formally enshrine the principle of rotational presidency between the North and South. The group argued that such a provision would eliminate political tension, foster trust among Nigeria’s regions and promote long-term cohesion.

‎“To remove doubts, reduce political anxiety and deepen national trust, rotational presidency should be clearly entrenched in the Constitution,” the forum stated, adding that the presidency should return to the North in 2031 after the completion of Tinubu’s tenure.

‎Speaking at the summit, Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, described national unity as central to Nigeria’s domestic stability and global relevance. He said Nigeria is navigating a critical period marked by global economic uncertainty, shifting alliances and heightened competition.

‎Former Lawmakers Adopt Tinubu for 2027

‎Gbajabiamila warned that internal disunity could weaken Nigeria’s ability to withstand global shocks, undermine investor confidence and stall development. He said the Tinubu administration understands the complexity of Nigeria’s diversity and remains committed to fairness, inclusion and equitable development.

‎He highlighted the establishment of development commissions across the six geopolitical zones as a deliberate policy to ensure balanced federal investment, while citing major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto–Badagry Highway as initiatives designed to strengthen national integration.

‎According to him, rotational presidency is rooted in historical wisdom and has helped manage diversity and political balance. He cautioned political actors against undermining the arrangement for narrow ambitions, warning that exploiting ethnic or religious sentiments for political gain could endanger national stability.

‎Gbajabiamila also pointed to social interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including ward development programmes, interest-free student loans and expanded healthcare access, noting that these initiatives are structured to benefit Nigerians across all regions.

‎Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, described the NFFL as an important platform for mentorship and bipartisan reflection, assuring that the National Assembly would continue to engage with the forum on national issues.

‎Earlier, NFFL National Coordinator, Igbokwe, stressed that the southern presidency under Tinubu should complete a full eight-year tenure, while cautioning against any attempt at tenure extension beyond constitutional limits. He commended ongoing reforms and called for sustained efforts to improve security, economic conditions and inter-ethnic harmony.

‎The summit reaffirmed the role of former legislators in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and underscored that nation-building remains a collective responsibility beyond partisan politics.