Ex-lawmakers back Tinubu for 2027, push constitutional rotation of presidency

Former members of Nigeria’s National Assembly, operating on the platform of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election.

They called for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency as a strategy for sustaining national unity beyond 2031.

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NFFL 2026 National Summit, themed “National Unity and Nation Building Beyond 2031,” held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.

The forum said its deliberations were guided by concerns over Nigeria’s long-term political stability, the need to deepen democratic practice and the imperative of rebuilding trust among the country’s diverse regions.

The former lawmakers reaffirmed dialogue, consultation and peaceful engagement as the cornerstone for resolving Nigeria’s political, social and regional challenges, stressing that the country’s issues must be addressed internally through constitutional and democratic means.

“Nigerian issues must be resolved by Nigerians through dialogue, constitutional and democratic means,” the communiqué stated, adding that sustained engagement remains essential for national cohesion.

On the contentious issue of power rotation, the forum resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031, after the completion of a Southern presidency, in line with the principles of equity, inclusion and national balance.

“In keeping with the spirit of fairness and national balance, we affirm that the presidency should return to the Northern region in 2031, after the completion of the Southern presidency,” the communiqué read.

To eliminate recurring political tension and uncertainty associated with zoning arrangements, the forum further called for the rotational principle to be clearly embedded in the Constitution.

“We call for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to promote fairness, strengthen national unity and provide clarity for future generations,” it said.

The NFFL also passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s administration, resolving that he should be supported to complete two full terms in office to consolidate ongoing reforms.

“In order to consolidate ongoing reforms, strengthen national unity and deepen democratic governance, we collectively resolve that the current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be supported to complete the full eight years.

“We therefore adopt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election”, the communiqué stated.

The forum reaffirmed its commitment to a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, calling on political leaders, institutions and citizens to uphold democratic values, justice and national cohesion in the collective interest of the country.

Speaking at the summit, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, warned that Nigeria’s survival and relevance in a rapidly changing global order depend fundamentally on national unity, which he described as a “strategic necessity” rather than a moral option.

Gbajabiamila told the former lawmakers from across the country that growing global instability has made experienced leadership and internal cohesion more critical than ever.

“We meet at a moment when the world appears unsettled and uncertain of its direction,.

“Yet it is precisely in moments such as these that leadership is most needed. Your willingness to convene and contribute once more to national discourse speaks volumes about your enduring commitment to the idea of Nigeria”, he said.

He conveyed  Tinubu’s goodwill to the forum, describing the NFFL as a reservoir of experience and institutional memory that continues to guide the administration’s policy direction.

“President Tinubu has asked me to convey his profound appreciation to the National Forum of Former Legislators for your sustained dedication to nation-building.

“He continues to draw strength, insight and guidance from the depth of political judgment, legislative experience and administrative wisdom that this Forum embodies”, Gbajabiamila said.

According to him, the institutional memory represented by former lawmakers is a national asset that must be deliberately harnessed to inform present decisions and shape future pathways.

Gbajabiamila stressed that nation-building transcends electoral cycles and individual administrations, describing it as an ongoing process rather than a one-off event.

Quoting the opening lines of the Constitution, he said Nigeria was never intended to be a collection of rival groups but a united people bound by shared hope and a common future, warning that internal divisions would weaken the country’s ability to navigate an evolving global order.

“In a world that increasingly rewards scale and strategic clarity, internal disunity weakens national capacity. A divided nation struggles to project strength, negotiate effectively or protect its interests”, he said.

He cautioned that prolonged disunity could expose Nigeria to heightened economic and security risks, noting that divisions tend to magnify vulnerability and transmit instability across generations.

Describing rotational presidency between the North and South as a stabilising political mechanism rooted in national wisdom, Gbajabiamila warned against allowing personal ambition to undermine national balance.

“The principle of a rotational presidency stands as one of the clearest expressions of principled compromise in the service of our national interest,” he said. “No personal aspiration should be allowed to endanger the hard-won balance that sustains our country.”

He also cautioned against identity-based politics, arguing that ethnic and religious mobilisation for political gain erodes trust and weakens the state.

In his closing remarks, Gbajabiamila urged political leaders and citizens to rise above division and commit to the harder work of unity.

“The work of national unity is not glamorous. It requires listening when it is easier to shout, compromising when it is tempting to dominate, and trusting when suspicion seems safer”, he said.

Earlier, Raphael  Igbokwe, National Coordinator, NFFL said the forum’s position on power rotation was the outcome of extensive consultations across the country.

“Following our Northern and Southern dialogue sessions, we collectively agreed that in the interest of unity, peace and national progress, the South should complete its eight-year term,” Igbokwe said.

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