The National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) have formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their sole candidate for a second term in office, while urging that Nigeria’s rotational presidency principle be entrenched in the Constitution to safeguard national unity and political balance.
The resolutions emerged from the NFFL’s 2026 National Summit, held on Saturday at the NAF Conference Centre in Kado, Abuja. The one-day event, themed “National Unity and Nation Building Beyond 2031,” drew former members of the National Assembly, state assemblies and local government councils from across the country.
In a communiqué issued at the close of deliberations, the forum stated that its decisions were guided by the imperative of national cohesion and deepening democratic practice. It unequivocally adopted President Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
“We adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election,” the communiqué read, stressing the importance of dialogue, consultation and peaceful engagement as “Nigeria’s primary tools for resolving political, social and regional challenges.”
Beyond the endorsement, the NFFL passed a vote of confidence in the Tinubu-led administration, resolving that the President should be supported to complete two full terms, a full eight years, in office to consolidate economic and institutional reforms and strengthen democratic governance.
A central pillar of the summit’s resolutions was a renewed call for the formal entrenchment of the rotational presidency in the nation’s Constitution, a system conventionally observed since 1999 but lacking legal codification. Former lawmakers argued that constitutional backing would reduce uncertainty in future elections, foster equity and preserve trust among Nigeria’s diverse regions.
“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 communique stated, underscoring the need to legally anchor the power-rotation framework.
NFFL National Coordinator Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe explained that the forum’s collective stance emerged from broad consultations conducted across geopolitical zones, aimed at promoting unity and reducing recurring political tension.
Delivering the keynote address, President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, described national cohesion as a strategic necessity for Nigeria’s survival and relevance amid a rapidly changing global order. He stressed that unity must transcend rhetoric, warning against identity-based politics and sectional ambitions.
“We meet at a moment when the world appears unsettled and uncertain of its direction,” Gbajabiamila told the gathering, urging leaders and citizens alike to uphold democratic values, justice and national cohesion. He also conveyed Tinubu’s appreciation for the forum’s continued dedication to nation-building.
He described the institutional memory embodied by former legislators as a national asset, critical for shaping present policy decisions and illuminating future pathways for governance.
The summit also saw contributions from prominent former presiding officers, including ex-Senate Presidents Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, and ex-House Speakers Patricia Eteh and Yakubu Dogara, among others. Their participation underscored the cross-sectional nature of the forum and its stated commitment to national dialogue.
While the summit focused on broad consensus around national unity and the presidential endorsement, some notable ex-lawmakers aligned with other political parties were absent, reflecting the ongoing contestation and realignment ahead of the 2027 polls.
