Former lawmakers seek constitutional backing for rotational presidency

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

Former federal legislators, under the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election while urging that rotational presidency be enshrined in the Constitution to safeguard national unity beyond 2031.

The resolutions were announced in a communiqué issued at the end of the NFFL 2026 National Summit in Abuja, themed “National unity and nation building beyond 2031.” The forum said its deliberations were guided by the need to strengthen 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. It added that dialogue and consultation must remain Nigeria’s primary tools for resolving political, social and regional challenges.

On power rotation, the forum resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031, after the completion of the 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 read.

The forum called for constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to eliminate uncertainty and recurring political tension. “We call for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to promote fairness, strengthen national unity and provide clarity for future generations,” it said.

A vote of confidence was passed in Tinubu’s administration, with the forum resolving that he should be supported to complete two full terms. “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,” the communiqué added.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, addressing the gathering, described national unity as a “strategic necessity” in a rapidly changing global order.

He warned that internal divisions would weaken Nigeria’s ability to navigate global instability. “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,” he said.

Gbajabiamila conveyed Tinubu’s goodwill to the forum, describing it as a reservoir of experience that continues to guide 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,” he said.

He stressed that nation-building transcends electoral cycles, noting 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.

Gbajabiamila cautioned against identity-based politics, warning 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, NFFL National Coordinator Raphael Igbokwe explained that the forum’s stance on power rotation followed 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,” he said.

This summit marks a renewed push by former lawmakers to formalise rotational presidency as a constitutional principle, positioning it as a mechanism to maintain balance and stability in Nigeria’s political system.

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