Former federal lawmakers from northern Nigeria are at odds over a recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, according to an OBSERVERS TIMES investigation. The division follows a communiqué from a group calling itself the Northern Caucus Forum of the 9th National Assembly, which threw its weight behind the president. This endorsement has been fiercely rejected by another faction of former legislators, who labeled the move as politically motivated and unrepresentative of the region’s true sentiments.
The controversy began after a dialogue session, convened by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
During the meeting, Gbajabiamila reportedly urged the caucus to support Tinubu’s second term, describing him as a national leader committed to equitable development. In a communiqué signed by Rufai Chanchangi, the forum praised Tinubu’s performance and advocated for political stability through continuity.
“We believe in equity, fairness, and political stability. It is in the best interest of the North and of Nigeria as a whole that the South completes its turn in the power rotation. We, therefore, endorse the continuation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership beyond 2027,” the communiqué stated.
However, a different group of former northern lawmakers, under the banner of Concerned Former Members of the House of Representatives, Northern Nigeria, has publicly rejected the endorsement. In a statement titled “We Can’t All Be Commodified,” the group, signed by Zakari Mohammed, Aminu Shagari, Tom Zakari, and Mohammed Musa Soba, accused the Chanchangi group of being a “political front” and of being “deceived into endorsing Tinubu for a second term.”
Confirming the statement to OBSERVERS TIMES, Zakari Mohammed said, “This group does not speak for all former northern legislators, and the positions outlined in their communiqué are neither representative nor reflective of the current sentiments across northern Nigeria.”
The opposing group heavily criticized the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity, poverty, and youth unemployment in the North. Their statement described the endorsement as a “classic hatchet job” aimed at securing “personal favours” at the expense of the region’s suffering population.
“While they indulge in coordinated praise and political posturing, the true state of northern Nigeria is one of pain, poverty, and peril,” the rebuttal read. “We refuse to endorse a failing system that continues to deepen the wounds of the North and the nation as a whole.”
The internal conflict among these former leaders mirrors broader divisions within the region. Recent meetings have revealed deep-seated concerns over claims of marginalization and dissatisfaction with the current administration’s performance, particularly regarding security and economic inclusion. This public split highlights the ongoing struggle to unite northern political interests as the 2027 general election draws closer.
