2027: Ex-NASS Members reject Tinubu’s Endorsement

Some former members of the National Assembly have dissociated themselves from a summit of ex legislators convened to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term ambition.

Daily Trust reports that National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) endorsed Tinubu for a second term, on Saturday.

Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was the convener at the summit which drew former legislators from across political divides, including former Senate Presidents, Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, as well as former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Patricia Eteh and Yakubu Dogara, among others.

But reacting to their action, a group of lawmakers said the endorsement was deceptive.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the former lawmakers said they were not part of any gathering organised under the banner of a Former Legislators’ Forum to endorse the President.

They warned against being misled by a “staged political exercise”.

“We state clearly, firmly, and without apology: we are not, and will never be, part of any contrived summit of ex legislators being hurriedly assembled to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term ambition,” the statement said.

The 17 signatories alleged that the proposed endorsement was driven by inducements rather than genuine consultation.

They insisted that credibility could not be manufactured through financial incentives.

“This gathering is nothing but a cash and carry political carnival, a rented crowd of handpicked individuals assembled to manufacture artificial legitimacy,” they said.

According to them, a small group of individuals could not claim to speak for hundreds of former lawmakers across the country.

“You cannot assemble a handful of loyalists behind closed doors, distribute inducements, and then falsely claim to speak for the conscience of hundreds of former legislators across Nigeria. That is deception. That is manipulation. That is democratic fraud,” the statement added.

The former lawmakers stressed that their names and identities must not be used without consent.

They declared that former legislators were not commodities for political transactions.

“Former legislators are not for sale. Our names are not commodities. Our legacy is not merchandise,” they said.

They argued that political endorsements should not replace governance performance, urging the administration to rely on tangible achievements rather than public displays of support.

“If this administration believes it deserves a second term, let it present tangible results to Nigerians security restored, hunger reduced, jobs created, and the economy stabilised. Endorsements do not govern a nation, performance does,” the statement said.

The group announced its complete dissociation from the alleged summit, rejected any endorsement issued in its name, and condemned what it described as the monetisation of democratic institutions.

“Our voices cannot be rented. Nigeria’s democracy will not be auctioned to the highest bidder,” they said.

The signatories include Hon Sergius Oguns, Hon Herman Hembe, Hon Sam Okwu, Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hon Tom Zakari, Hon Mohammed Soba, Hon Chika Adamu, Hon Sadiq Ibrahim and Hon Tajudeen Ajagbe.

Others include Hon Supo Abiodun, Hon Danlad Donald Olayonu, Hon Abubakar Amuda Kannike, Hon Rufus Omiri, Hon Mayor Eze, Hon Kamil Akinlabi, Hon Shaaba Ibrahim, and Hon Nkwo Nkole.

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