Former federal lawmakers, under the auspices of the National Forum of Former Legislators, have adopted President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election and called for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to sustain 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 on Saturday in Abuja.
Presenting the communiqué, the forum said its deliberations were guided by the need for national cohesion and the integration of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
“We adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election.
“We reaffirm that dialogue, consultation and peaceful engagement must always remain Nigeria’s primary tool for resolving political, social and regional challenges.
“Nigerian issues must be resolved by Nigerians through dialogue, constitutional and democratic means,” the communiqué read in part.
On power rotation, the former lawmakers resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031 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 added.
To eliminate uncertainty and recurring political tension, the forum urged that the principle of rotation 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,” the communiqué stressed.
The forum also passed a vote of confidence in the Tinubu-led administration, resolving that the President should be supported to complete two full terms in office.
“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,” it said.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria and called on political leaders and citizens to uphold democratic values and national cohesion.
“We call on all political leaders, institutions and citizens to uphold the values of democracy, justice and national cohesion in the collective interest of our great nation,” the communiqué concluded.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, warned that Nigeria’s survival and relevance in a rapidly changing global order depend fundamentally on national unity, describing cohesion as a “strategic necessity” rather than a moral option.
Gbajabiamila told former lawmakers from across the country that 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 that continues to guide the administration’s 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,” Gbajabiamila said.
According to him, the institutional memory of former lawmakers must be leveraged to deepen the nation’s economy.
“The institutional memory represented in this room is a national asset of immense value.
“It must be deliberately harnessed to inform present choices and illuminate future pathways,” he added.
Gbajabiamila stressed that nation-building transcends electoral cycles and individual administrations.
“Nation-building is not an event, nor the exclusive responsibility of any single administration. It is a continuum,” he said.
Citing the opening words of the 1999 Constitution, the Chief of Staff noted that Nigeria was never intended to exist as a collection of rival groups.
“Those words affirm that Nigeria was never meant to be a collection of rival camps, but one people bound together by a shared hope and a common future,” he said, adding that unity was “a solemn duty we owe to one another.”
He warned that internal divisions would weaken Nigeria’s capacity 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,” Gbajabiamila said.
Prolonged disunity, he added, would expose the country to economic and security risks.
“Disunity at this moment does not merely delay progress; it multiplies risk, magnifies vulnerability and transmits insecurity across generations,” he warned.
Describing rotational presidency between the North and South as a stabilising political mechanism rooted in national wisdom, Gbajabiamila cautioned 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.
“No personal aspiration should be allowed to endanger the hard-won balance that sustains our country,” he said.
He also warned against identity-based politics, noting 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,” he said.
Earlier, the NFFL National Coordinator, Mr Raphael Igbokwe, said the forum’s position on power rotation followed 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,” Nnanna said.
