2027: Over 1,000 Ex-Lawmakers Endorse Tinubu as Sole Presidential Candidate

Over 1,000 former lawmakers from across the country have officially declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Gathered under the umbrella of the National Forum of Former Legislators, the group held a National Summit on Saturday in Abuja.

The event, themed ‘National unity and national building, beyond 2031’, served as a platform for the ex-legislators to adopt Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the next election cycle.

The forum consists of former members of the National Assembly and representatives from the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Beyond the endorsement, the members expressed strong support for the principle of a rotational presidency.

They specifically advocated for the Northern region to produce the president in 2031, following the expected completion of a second term by the current administration.

During the summit, several high-ranking officials and former presiding officers offered goodwill messages.

The list included the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Interior, Hon. Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo; and former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Pius Anyim.

Other notable speakers were former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Patricia Etteh.

The speakers praised the President’s ongoing socioeconomic reforms. They noted that these initiatives are crucial for improving Nigeria’s political and economic fortunes.

Addressing the assembly earlier, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila remarked that Nigeria is fortunate to have a leader who understands the complexities of the nation’s diversity.

He noted that the administration has reached a “historic milestone” by ensuring each of the six geopolitical zones now has its own Development Commission.

He further mentioned that infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto–Badagry highway, are more than just roads; they are “pathways for inter-ethnic interaction.”

Gbajabiamila urged the leaders to choose “country over faction” and “hope over despair,” stressing that the work of national unity is often difficult but necessary for a prosperous future.

In a related development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee and the Progressive Governors Forum had previously passed a similar vote of confidence in May 2025, endorsing President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 polls.