The caucus, in a communiqué released after a dialogue session organized by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, pledged support for Tinubu’s second-term bid. Describing the President as a “National leader committed to equitable development,” the forum emphasized continuity and national stability as key motivations for their endorsement.
Kogitribune correspondent gathered that the meeting formed part of broader consultations aimed at rallying political support for President Tinubu as he eyes a second term upon the completion of his first tenure on May 29, 2027.
Addressing the forum, Gbajabiamila—himself a former Speaker of the House of Representatives—urged the ex-lawmakers to back Tinubu’s re-election, highlighting infrastructural development and policy reforms across Nigeria, particularly in the North.
“President Tinubu is not a regional leader; he is a National figure who has included all zones in his governance agenda. The North is witnessing the dividends of his commitment to equity,” Gbajabiamila asserted.
The forum’s communiqué, signed by its Coordinator, Rufai Chanchangi, a former member of the 8th House of Representatives, described Tinubu’s leadership as one that deserves continuity. “It is in Nigeria’s interest that the South completes its turn in the power rotation. We therefore endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership beyond 2027,” the statement read.
The Chairman of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Nnanna Igbokwe, also praised the endorsement, calling it a demonstration of “statesmanship and National unity.”
However, the move has sparked backlash from a rival group of former northern legislators, operating under the banner of Concerned Former Members of the House of Representatives, Northern Nigeria. In a strongly-worded statement titled “We Can’t All Be Commodified”, the group rejected the endorsement as politically motivated and unrepresentative of the northern region’s true sentiment.
Signed by Zakari Mohammed, Aminu Shagari, Tom Zakari, and Mohammed Musa Soba, the group accused the caucus of staging a “political show” lacking legitimacy and accountability. Speaking to KogiTribune, Zakari Mohammed dismissed the endorsement as deceptive.
“The Chanchangi group does not speak for all northern ex-lawmakers. Their communiqué does not reflect the realities of our people, who are suffering under rising poverty, insecurity, and economic exclusion,” Mohammed stated.
The dissenting group accused the forum of being a covert extension of Gbajabiamila’s political interests and questioned the moral authority of the signatories. They also cited continued insecurity and widespread deprivation in northern states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, and Benue as evidence of Tinubu’s governance failure in the region.
“This endorsement is nothing more than a hatchet job. The broader northern population is enduring intense hardship, and no amount of choreographed praise can mask that truth,” the statement read.
The group also took issue with the use of legacy names and institutions—specifically referencing the late Sardauna of Sokoto—arguing that invoking such symbols for political validation was inappropriate and misleading.
“We disassociate ourselves from Rufai Chanchangi and his collaborators. They have no constitutional or moral authority to speak on behalf of former northern legislators. The meeting in Kaduna was a charade. We will not allow northern suffering to be exploited for political theater,” the statement continued.
The internal rift comes just days after a high-level meeting of northern leaders in Kaduna aimed at evaluating the Tinubu administration’s performance two years into office. Held at the historic Arewa House, the event—titled *“Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens Engagement for National Unity”—exposed deep regional divisions over perceived marginalisation under Tinubu’s leadership.
While some participants commended the administration for its appointments and infrastructure efforts, others raised alarm over deepening insecurity and economic hardship in the North.
Political observers view the recent endorsement and counter-statements as part of a broader strategy by the Presidency to blunt northern discontent and consolidate political support ahead of 2027. However, discontent appears to be growing in influential northern circles.
Key northern figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai—have aligned with the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition, positioning themselves for a major political challenge in the next election cycle.
Their participation underscores the complexities Tinubu faces as he seeks to retain national support amid criticism and growing dissatisfaction within key regions, particularly the North.
With both endorsements and dissent emerging from within the same political bloc, the battle for the North ahead of 2027 may prove to be one of the most defining dynamics of Nigeria’s next general election.
