We refuse to endorse a failing system that continues to deepen the wounds of the North and the nation as a whole.
A fresh political rift has emerged among former federal lawmakers from Northern Nigeria over the 2027 re-election ambitions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as opposing voices within the same region reject the move as unrepresentative and politically motivated.
The controversy stems from an endorsement issued by a segment of the region’s political elite—specifically, the Northern Caucus Forum of the 9th National Assembly, facilitated by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives. The meeting, according to organisers, was part of a wider national consultation to consolidate support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the communiqué issued at the end of the session, the Northern Caucus described Tinubu as a national leader whose administration has promoted inclusive development and fostered unity across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Rufai Chanchangi, a former member of the 8th House of Representatives and coordinator of the Forum, signed the statement which read: “We believe in the principles of equity, fairness, and the necessity of political stability. For these reasons, we strongly support the continuation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration beyond 2027. It is only fair that the South completes its rightful turn in the power-sharing arrangement.”
Gbajabiamila, while addressing the gathering, urged the caucus to rally behind Tinubu’s government, emphasizing the President’s inclusive style of leadership and commitment to equitable governance.
“President Tinubu is not merely a southern politician—he is a national figure who has embraced all parts of the country. From transformative infrastructure projects to bold economic policies, the North is experiencing the impact of a government that values shared prosperity,” Gbajabiamila stated.
Also lending his voice to the endorsement, the Chairman of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Nnanna Igbokwe, praised the position taken by the Northern Caucus, describing it as an example of national leadership and maturity.
“This move is not just symbolic—it reflects statesmanship that goes beyond narrow interests. I am confident that other regions will join this cause in the interest of national unity and political continuity,” Igbokwe said.
However, the development has sparked fierce backlash from another group of northern ex-lawmakers operating under the banner Concerned Former Members of the House of Representatives, Northern Nigeria. In a strongly worded statement titled “We Can’t All Be Commodified,” they denounced the endorsement as a choreographed political stunt aimed at currying favour with the presidency.
The group, which includes former legislators Zakari Mohammed, Aminu Shagari, Tom Zakari, and Mohammed Musa Soba, insisted that the Northern Caucus Forum does not speak for all former lawmakers from the region.
“We state emphatically that this so-called forum lacks the legitimacy to represent the collective voice of northern ex-lawmakers. Their communiqué does not reflect the prevailing mood or realities in northern Nigeria. At best, this group is a political extension of Femi Gbajabiamila’s loyalists posing as a neutral body,” the statement said.
The critics further slammed the gathering, alleging that it misrepresented the dire situation faced by many in the North under the current administration.
“While they sing praises and issue choreographed communiqués, the true state of the North is one of growing poverty, widespread insecurity, and deepening despair. Millions of families are grappling with hardship, and such political theatre does a disservice to the people we once represented.”
They also distanced themselves from Chanchangi and others who participated in the meeting, accusing them of hijacking the legacy of northern icons for personal political gain.
“We disassociate completely from Hon. Rufai Chanchangi and his allies. They neither have the moral authority nor the constitutional mandate to speak for all former northern lawmakers. If the event they staged in Kaduna under the guise of honouring the legacy of the late Sardauna of Sokoto is their claim to legitimacy, then we denounce it as a shameful misuse of history and heritage.”
The group issued a stern warning against what they described as attempts to whitewash the administration’s failures at the expense of the North’s suffering population.
“We will not be co-opted into political theatre while our people suffer. We refuse to endorse a failing system that continues to deepen the wounds of the North and the nation as a whole.
“The North deserves honesty, development, and bold leadership—not choreographed communiques masking hunger and insecurity.”
As political alignments continue to shift ahead of the 2027 elections, the division among former lawmakers highlights the growing complexity surrounding Tinubu’s second-term bid—especially in the North, where regional sentiments and national expectations are increasingly colliding.