PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu received a major political endorsement yesterday as some of Nigeria’s most prominent former lawmakers, including ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House Speakers Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara, threw their weight behind his 2027 re-election bid.
News Point Nigeria reports that the meeting under the banner of the Southern Summit of Former Legislators, the political heavyweights unanimously adopted Tinubu as their sole candidate for the next presidential election, citing his economic reforms, fiscal discipline, and policy innovations as key reasons for their support.
The summit, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, brought together dozens of former senators, House of Representatives members, and political leaders from across the southern region.
In a communiqué read at the end of the summit made available to News Point Nigeria, signed by Hon. Adeyemi Oluwole, Chairman of the Southern Caucus, and Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, Secretary, the group stressed that the South should be allowed to complete its constitutionally expected eight-year leadership tenure.
“We affirm that it is the turn of the South to complete its tenure,” the statement read.
“In the best interest of national unity and stability, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be supported to complete the South’s turn. Accordingly, we adopt him as the sole candidate of the South for the 2027 presidential election.”
The communiqué also commended the Northern Caucus of former legislators for publicly backing the South to finish its turn, describing the move as “patriotic and unifying.”
The group listed a number of Tinubu’s flagship reforms as evidence of his “transformational leadership”, including the creation of regional development commissions, the student loan scheme, local government autonomy, and the deregulation of the electricity sector.
They urged state governments and citizens to key into these reforms to accelerate growth and unlock the country’s potential.
“We commend the courage of the Tinubu administration and call on Nigerians to support these policies so that the country can harvest their full benefits,” the communiqué stated.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who served as convener of the summit, delivered a keynote address highlighting Tinubu’s fiscal and economic reforms.
He cited the World Bank Development Update, which revealed that Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.6% in Q4 2024, lifting the country’s annual growth rate to 3.4%, the fastest pace in a decade.
Gbajabiamila further disclosed that Nigeria’s fiscal deficit had narrowed from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3% in 2024, with federal revenues surging from ₦16.8 trillion to ₦31.9 trillion.
“This is not just economics, this is nation-building. President Tinubu has established development commissions across all six geopolitical zones to channel federal resources into infrastructure, education, and human capital development,” Gbajabiamila said.
In one of the summit’s most striking moments, Yakubu Dogara, who famously opposed Tinubu’s 2023 candidacy over the controversial same-faith ticket, openly declared his support for the president.
Dogara, who had left the APC in protest before the 2023 polls, said his decision to endorse Tinubu was based on the “visible economic recovery and policy direction” of the administration.
“We must not allow political pretenders to deceive us. Their agitation is not patriotism; it is vengeance and raw power-seeking. Today, I stand with President Tinubu because his reforms are working,” Dogara said to loud applause.
Former Speaker Patricia Etteh called for cohesion and dialogue as Nigeria works toward sustainable development, stressing that unity is a non-negotiable ingredient for peace and progress.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who hosted the event, echoed this sentiment, urging the former legislators to continue serving as “the conscience of democracy” by championing inclusive governance and human capital development.
“Nation-building is a shared responsibility that transcends region, party or tribe. Our diversity must be celebrated under the framework of justice, equity and mutual respect,” Abiodun said.
The Southern Summit endorsement adds to a growing list of political support for Tinubu’s second term, including APC governors, traditional rulers, and party leaders across all six geopolitical zones.