Former federal lawmakers, operating under the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election and called for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to promote 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 driven by the need to strengthen national cohesion and integrate Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
“We adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election,” the communiqué stated.
The former lawmakers also reaffirmed dialogue, consultation and peaceful engagement as Nigeria’s primary tools for resolving political, social and regional challenges, stressing that national issues must be addressed through constitutional and democratic means.
On power rotation, the forum resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031, in line with principles of equity, inclusion and national balance, following the completion of a 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 added.
To eliminate uncertainty and recurring political tension, the forum urged that rotational presidency be clearly embedded in the Constitution, describing it as essential for fairness, unity and long-term political stability.
The NFFL 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 resolve that the current President should be supported to complete the full eight years,” the communiqué said.
The forum further reaffirmed its commitment to a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, calling on political leaders and citizens to uphold democratic values and national cohesion.
Speaking at the summit, 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 said global instability has made experienced leadership and internal cohesion more critical than ever, noting that nation-building transcends electoral cycles and individual administrations.
He described rotational presidency between the North and South as a stabilising political mechanism rooted in national wisdom, cautioning against allowing personal ambition to undermine national balance.
The Chief of Staff also warned against identity-based politics, stating that ethnic and religious mobilisation for political gain erodes trust and weakens the foundations of the state.
Earlier, the NFFL National Coordinator, Raphael Igbokwe, said the forum’s position on power rotation followed extensive consultations across the country, adding that both Northern and Southern dialogue sessions agreed that the South should complete its eight-year term in the interest of unity and peace.
