By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
Members of the National Forum of Former Legislators have declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of the 2027 general election.
They also endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, as their preferred candidate for the Kano State governorship race.
The endorsement, according to a statement by Barau’s Media Aide, Ismail Mudashir, was announced on Sunday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the forum to Senator Barau at the National Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the National Coordinator of the forum, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, said the decision followed a collective assessment of the Tinubu administration’s reforms and development agenda since assuming office.
Igbokwe explained that the forum, which comprises former legislators at the federal, state and local government levels, resolved to back President Tinubu to enable him to consolidate and complete the wide-ranging programmes and policy reforms initiated over the past 30 months.
According to him, the group has positioned itself as a parliamentary support bloc for the current administration, noting that its members believe the President deserves continuity to realise the objectives of his governance agenda fully.
“We have come together as right-minded individuals who believe in this administration and have already established our position as a parliamentary support group for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Igbokwe said.
He added that the forum’s endorsement of Senator Barau for the Kano governorship aligned with the position already taken by its Kano State chapter, describing the deputy senate president as a seasoned lawmaker with the experience and capacity to lead the state effectively.
“We have also concurred with our state chapter, which has endorsed Senator Barau for the governorship race in Kano State,” he stated.
Igbokwe further disclosed that the forum’s convener, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is currently the Chief of Staff to the President, had extended an invitation to Senator Barau to serve as Special Guest of Honour at the forthcoming National Summit on National Unity and Nation Building.
The summit, he said, is scheduled for January 24, 2026.
Responding, Senator Barau expressed appreciation to the forum for its support and commended its members for transforming the body from what he described as an informal association into a structured and purposeful organisation of former parliamentarians.
He described the initiative as timely, stressing the need for experienced former lawmakers to rally behind the current administration in the national interest.
“This initiative is timely and necessary. What you’ve done is remarkable. It’s something that should be done, and I strongly support it,” Barau said.
The deputy senate president noted that the country was at a critical stage where the collective support of past and present leaders was required to stabilise governance and drive economic recovery.
He urged former legislators to work closely with the government, stressing that President Tinubu, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, was making determined efforts to return Nigeria to the path of growth and prosperity.
“He needs the support of all in this regard,” Barau added.
The visit and endorsements underscore growing political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly within influential blocs of former lawmakers across the country.
