2027: Ex-Lawmakers Support Tinubu's Re-election, Aim for 11 Million Votes

Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria are backing President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027. They made this known on Thursday at the 2026 FOPSHAN national summit held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the summit is themed "Bold Leadership, Bold Reforms, From Subsidy to Renewed Hope-Assessing the Economic Trajectory and Visionary Leadership of President Tinubu’s Administration." The forum discussed good governance, fiscal reforms, and national growth.

The group recognized the temporary economic challenges after the removal of the petroleum subsidy by the Tinubu government. Despite this, they agreed that the subsidy removal was a brave move aimed at fostering sustainable development and long-term growth.

They promised to gather over 11 million votes for Tinubu in the upcoming presidential election in 2027. They also expressed support for important national changes, like state police, regional development commissions, and local government autonomy. FOPSHAN National Secretary Matog Dogara read a motion asking that President Tinubu be allowed to lead the country for a second term.

"The forum of All Progressive Conference (APC), former presiding officers of state councils of assembly in Nigeria, the summit resolved as follows: one, endorsement of Renewed Hope Agenda, a motion that fully endorses the bold economic reforms of President Tinubu’s administration, particularly the removal of oil subsidiaries.

"The forum resolved to take the message of the summit to all the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)," he stated.

The forum also named First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as the FOPSHAN grand patron. Earlier, former Senate President Pius Anyim, as the chairman of the event, called President Tinubu "not a politician of today" but a statesman making tough choices for Nigeria's future.

He said Tinubu is thinking beyond the next election and "planting" reforms for future generations. Anyim defended the administration’s reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies, student loans, and the proposed state police.

According to the former Senate president, reforms are usually not popular when they start because their benefits often come long after the pain of implementation. "I rarely talk about iconic leaders. I would rather observe them because most of the time they are not defined by the projects they do. They are rather defined by their vision and reforms to implement."

He explained that reforms become essential when societies hit a point needing major political, social, and economic changes. Only brave leaders make decisions whose benefits may not show up right away.

"Reforms at every time have never always been very popular, but only courageous leaders who are not thinking about today but tomorrow actually embark on reforms," he said. Mr Anyim's view of Tinubu's political journey made him believe that the President is looking beyond immediate political issues.

Former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who is also the current Senator, acknowledged the economic problems caused by the reform program but insisted Nigeria must shift from macroeconomic stability to shared prosperity. He looked at the removal of the petrol subsidy, foreign-exchange reforms, fiscal management, debt control, revenue generation, and tax reforms as key parts of the administration’s economic plan.

Lalong noted that subsidy removal raised transport and living costs, putting a lot of pressure on families and businesses. Yet, he argued that previous governments had delayed addressing this issue for years. He said the World Bank's assessments showed progress towards macroeconomic stability, but poverty remained high and household incomes had not fully recovered.

He emphasized that macroeconomic success needs to translate into real improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Lalong pointed out infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development, security, social protection, and youth opportunities as important for achieving this change.

He called for continued investment in roads and bridges, stressing that infrastructure projects must be well done and provide good value for money. Former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and current Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, praised President Tinubu for the bold choice to remove the subsidy, saying it significantly benefits the economy.

"It will be important that you take this message home that before Mr President came into office in 2023, there was no investment in Nigeria in the petroleum sector; it was zero investment for over a decade.

"Some may blame the delay in passing the Petroleum Industry Act, but that is not the only reason; some of the reasons were that people were unsure whether Nigeria was a stable and reliable place for investments to come," he said.

The National Chairman of the forum, Wasiu Eshilokun, noted that the gathering aimed to let experienced lawmakers discuss the effects of major policy decisions and help with national growth. He stated that the removal of fuel subsidy, changes in federal allocation, and efforts to improve local government financial independence had sparked significant national discussions.

"These are consequential decisions which immediately affect citizens and institutions, and they therefore deserve thoughtful, honest and constructive engagement," he said. Eshilokun added that the success of reforms would depend on how well they are implemented, the strength of institutions, and how much Nigerians feel their impact.

He encouraged attendees to identify any unintended side effects and areas for improvement instead of just reflecting on government policies. He also called for better teamwork among the three levels of government, saying that increased public revenue should lead to responsible governance and better public services.

Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Forum, Francis Nwifuru, highlighted the need for cooperation between the executive and legislature, drawing from his past as a speaker. "Those years taught me an enduring lesson. Governance is not the responsibility of the executive alone; it is a partnership between institutions," Nwifuru, a former Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, stated.

At the event, First Lady Mrs Tinubu, who was the guest of honour, said Nigeria still needs the wisdom, experience, and networks of former presiding officers. She urged them to use their experience to strengthen democratic institutions, guide younger legislators, and preserve institutional memory.

"This summit is a celebration of service, leadership, experience and sacrifice. Leaving political office should never mean leaving public service.

"Nigeria still needs your wisdom, experience, and networks. I therefore urge you to use this forum as a platform for preserving institutional memory, mentoring younger legislators, promoting democratic stability, and continuing to contribute to the development of the various communities where we serve," she said.

On the forum’s support for President Tinubu’s 2027 bid, Mrs Tinubu expressed gratitude, noting that their backing is significant since it comes from people who have held high positions in the legislative arm of government.

"I especially acknowledge and appreciate your endorsement of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his second term in office.

"Coming from men and women who have themselves presided over legislative institutions, your endorsement carries special significance. You understand the demands of governance, the difficulty of making critical decisions, and the courage required to pursue reforms in the national interest," she said.

The First Lady added that since taking office, the administration has worked hard to reshape the Nigerian economy and lay what she called a strong foundation for sustainable national development.

"Since the inception of this administration, Mr President has worked tirelessly to reposition an economy and lay a solid foundation for sustainable national development," Mrs Tinubu stated.