Former federal legislators under the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election.
The group also called for rotational presidency to be enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution to safeguard national unity beyond 2031.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NFFL 2026 National Summit in Abuja, themed “National unity and nation building beyond 2031.”
“We adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election,” the communiqué stated. It added that dialogue and consultation must remain Nigeria’s primary tools for resolving political, social, and regional challenges.
Call for Rotational Presidency
On power rotation, the forum resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031 after the completion of the Southern presidency.
“In keeping with the spirit of fairness and national balance, we affirm that the presidency should return to the Northern region in 2031,” the communiqué read.
The forum urged constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to eliminate uncertainty and recurring political tension.
“We call for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to promote fairness, strengthen national unity and provide clarity for future generations,” it said.
Confidence in Tinubu’s Administration
A vote of confidence was passed in Tinubu’s administration, with the forum resolving that he should be supported to complete two full terms.
“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,” the communiqué added.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, addressed the gathering, describing national unity as a “strategic necessity” in a rapidly changing 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.
Gbajabiamila conveyed Tinubu’s goodwill to the forum, describing it as a reservoir of experience that continues to guide policy direction.
“President Tinubu has asked me to convey his profound appreciation to the NFFL 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,” he said.
He cautioned against identity-based politics, warning that ethnic and religious mobilisation for political gain erodes trust and weakens the state.
“When political competition amplifies ethnic suspicion or religious fear, it corrodes trust and weakens the foundations of the state,” Gbajabiamila said.
Forum’s Position on Power Rotation
Earlier, NFFL National Coordinator Raphael Igbokwe explained that the forum’s stance on power rotation followed 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,” he said.
The summit marks a renewed push by former lawmakers to formalise rotational presidency as a constitutional principle, positioning it as a mechanism to maintain balance and stability in Nigeria’s political system.
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