Former federal lawmakers from northern Nigeria are now split over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s potential second-term bid, following a recent endorsement by the Northern Caucus Forum of the 9th National Assembly.

The forum, after a dialogue session convened by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, declared support for Tinubu’s re-election. In a communique, they described him as a national leader committed to balanced development across all regions of the country.

The meeting formed part of an ongoing nationwide consultation aimed at galvanizing support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition, with his current tenure scheduled to end in May 2027.

Addressing the gathering, Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, encouraged the forum to rally behind Tinubu’s leadership. He emphasized that the former Lagos governor has consistently prioritized peace and prosperity for all Nigerians.

“President Tinubu is a national leader who has engaged all regions fairly. From infrastructure to reforms, the North continues to benefit from a government that values equity and collective progress,” he stated.

In the communique signed by the forum’s coordinator, Rufai Chanchangi—a former member of the 8th House of Representatives—the caucus expressed its endorsement for Tinubu’s second term, citing his governance record and the need for political continuity.

“We believe in fairness, justice, and national stability. It is in Nigeria’s best interest that the South completes its turn in power rotation. We, therefore, support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continuation beyond 2027,” the statement read.

Chairman of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Nnanna Igbokwe, also praised the endorsement, describing it as a patriotic move that reflects national unity above sectional interests.

However, the endorsement has faced strong opposition from another group of former lawmakers from the North, who criticized the meeting and its outcome as politically engineered and unrepresentative of the broader regional sentiment.

Operating under the name “Concerned Former Members of the House of Representatives, Northern Nigeria,” the dissenting group released a statement titled “We Can’t All Be Commodified,” rejecting the endorsement and questioning its legitimacy.

The statement—signed by Zakari Mohammed, Aminu Shagari, Tom Zakari, and Mohammed Musa Soba—argued that the gathering was a staged performance with no mandate to speak on behalf of all northern ex-lawmakers.

Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the group, alleged that the Chanchangi-led forum was misled into supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

“The communique issued by that group does not reflect the true position of former northern legislators. Their views are neither inclusive nor representative. That forum is a political outfit pretending to be neutral, and clearly aligned with the Chief of Staff to the President,” he said.

The group accused the Tinubu administration of deepening hardship in northern Nigeria, citing growing poverty, insecurity, and joblessness. They pointed to worsening conditions in states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, and Benue as evidence of government neglect.

“While they sing praises, the North continues to suffer immense pain, poverty, and insecurity,” the statement read. The endorsement, they argued, was a “hatchet job” aimed at gaining political favour rather than addressing the North’s pressing issues.

They also denounced Chanchangi’s leadership role in the forum, saying he lacked both moral and constitutional legitimacy to speak for all former lawmakers.

“We completely distance ourselves from Hon. Rufai Chanchangi and those aligned with him. They are not our representatives. Their so-called endorsement event in Kaduna—under the banner of a foundation associated with the late Sardauna of Sokoto—is nothing more than an abuse of legacy and symbolism,” the statement added.

The group vowed not to participate in what they termed “political theatre” while people in the region face daily hardships.

“The North deserves real leadership, development, and sincerity—not shallow communiques that mask suffering and insecurity,” the group stated.

This division among former northern lawmakers follows a separate meeting of northern leaders in Kaduna days earlier, aimed at evaluating the federal government’s performance since President Tinubu assumed office two years ago.

That meeting, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” drew participants from all 19 northern states and the FCT. It highlighted the differing views in the region, with some praising Tinubu’s initiatives and appointments, while others criticized perceived marginalization, economic exclusion, and continued insecurity.

Observers believe the more recent endorsement meeting may be part of the Presidency’s broader efforts to quell regional dissent and bolster support in the North.

Notably, some prominent northern figures, including former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa), have openly expressed dissatisfaction, claiming the region has been sidelined under Tinubu’s leadership.

Kwankwaso recently accused the administration of favouring the South at the expense of the North during a stakeholders’ dialogue on constitutional reform in Kano—an accusation swiftly dismissed by the Presidency.

Meanwhile, the newly formed coalition of opposition leaders led by the African Democratic Congress includes several northern political heavyweights, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, further signaling growing opposition in the region.