Former Lawmakers Endorse Tinubu as Sole 2027 Candidate, Cite Reforms and National Unity

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prospects for re-election in 2027 received a major boost on Saturday as the Southern Caucus of the Forum of Former Legislators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria endorsed him as their sole presidential candidate.

The endorsement came during a summit convened by the President’s Chief of Staff and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Southern Caucus comprises former Speakers and principal officers of the House of Representatives from the South-west, South-south, and South-east regions. Notably, some members of the Northern Caucus, including former Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara, were also present at the event chaired by former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani.

Citing Reforms and Economic Recovery

In a communiqué issued at the close of the summit, the former lawmakers credited President Tinubu with spearheading key reforms that have “re-engineered the economy, strengthened the currency, and placed the nation on a path to socio-economic recovery” over the past two years.

Hon. Gbajabiamila, speaking at the gathering, praised Tinubu’s economic policies, highlighting the signing of tax reforms into law as a watershed moment for fairness, accountability, and national development.

Quoting the World Bank Development Update, he revealed that Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.6 per cent in the final quarter of 2024, resulting in an annual growth rate of 3.4 per cent—the fastest in a decade. He added that the country’s fiscal deficit narrowed from 5.4 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 3 per cent in 2024, with federal revenues nearly doubling from ₦16.8 trillion in 2023 to an estimated ₦31.9 trillion in 2024.

Call for National Unity and Purpose

Gbajabiamila stressed that national development could only be achieved through peace and unity, noting that “nation-building goes beyond constructing roads, bridges, and schools; it is about fostering a common identity and shared purpose among citizens.”

He commended President Tinubu’s initiative in establishing development commissions across the six geopolitical zones, describing them as critical to channelling federal resources into infrastructure and human capital projects nationwide.

Lawmakers’ Role in National Progress

The Chief of Staff also lauded the role of former legislators in shaping Nigeria’s political and economic landscape, noting that many continue to serve in key positions within the Tinubu administration.

“This summit is an exceptional opportunity for friends, former colleagues, and patriots committed to the promise of Nigeria to explore how we can individually and collectively support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in delivering the long-delayed reforms needed to secure the progress and prosperity of all our people,” Gbajabiamila said.

He pointed out that the federal cabinet alone includes 15 former members of the National Assembly, alongside other prominent veterans of the federal parliament, including the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Deputy Chief of Staff.

With this endorsement, the former lawmakers have pledged to mobilise nationwide support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing his record of reforms, economic management, and commitment to national unity as key reasons for backing him as the sole candidate for 2027.

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