Tinubu’s 2027 Bid Divides Northern Ex-Lawmakers After Abuja Meeting

Former federal lawmakers from northern Nigeria are sharply divided over President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid following an endorsement by the Northern Caucus Forum of the 9th National Assembly. The endorsement came after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, reportedly convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as part of wider consultations aimed at building support for Tinubu’s 2027 second-term ambition.

In a communiqué signed by Rufai Chanchangi, a member of the 8th House of Representatives and coordinator of the forum, the caucus declared its full backing of President Tinubu’s re-election. The group cited his “national leadership” credentials and commitment to equitable development, arguing that a continuation of his presidency would bring political stability and uphold the principle of power rotation.

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, urged the former lawmakers to support Tinubu’s bid, saying the President had demonstrated inclusive leadership. He argued that northern Nigeria had seen significant gains under the current administration and described Tinubu as the best candidate to lead Nigeria beyond 2027.

However, the endorsement has triggered a fierce backlash from another group of former northern legislators 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” and jointly signed by Zakari Mohammed, Aminu Shagari, Tom Zakari, and Mohammed Musa Soba, the group dismissed the meeting and its resolution as unrepresentative and politically staged.

Speaking to the media, Zakari Mohammed accused the endorsing faction of being deceived into backing Tinubu and questioned their legitimacy to speak for the entire northern caucus. The dissenting lawmakers warned that the communique was a choreographed endorsement designed to curry favour with the Presidency, while ignoring the worsening realities of poverty, insecurity, and unemployment across the North.

The group pointed to violence and neglect in states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, and Benue, asserting that the Tinubu administration has failed to address the deepening socio-economic crisis in the region. They described the endorsement as a “hatchet job” and accused Chanchangi and his allies of lacking the moral or constitutional authority to act on behalf of all former northern legislators.

Rejecting what they called a fraudulent appropriation of legacy, the group denounced the Kaduna meeting where the endorsement was made, alleging it was staged under the guise of a foundation linked to the late Sardauna of Sokoto. According to them, it was a calculated attempt to legitimise political theatre in the name of national unity.

Their statement comes just days after northern leaders gathered in Kaduna to assess Tinubu’s performance two years into his presidency. That forum, held under the theme *“Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens Engagement for National Unity,”* exposed internal rifts over claims of northern marginalisation and uneven development.

While some participants praised Tinubu’s efforts and appointments in the North, others — including prominent northern political figures like former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido — voiced concerns that the region was being sidelined. Kwankwaso, speaking recently at a stakeholders’ dialogue in Kano, accused the Tinubu administration of favouring the South at the expense of the North, a claim swiftly rejected by the Presidency.

The growing tension underscores a larger political realignment in the region, as many northern heavyweights, including Atiku Abubakar, Babachir Lawal, and Nasir El-Rufai, have positioned themselves in opposition through the African Democratic Congress-led coalition, signaling deepening cracks within the northern political elite ahead of the 2027 general elections.