Barau Leads Call for Tinubu’s Re-Election at Ex-Legislators’ National Summit

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has urged Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, saying a second term would ensure the full implementation of the President’s wide-ranging reform agenda aimed at transforming the nation.
Senator Barau made the call on Saturday at the 2026 National Summit of Former Legislators, themed “National Unity and Nation Building: Beyond 2031,” held in Abuja.

The summit was organised by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) and convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. It attracted former lawmakers across party lines, including former Senate Presidents, Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, as well as former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Patricia Eteh and Yakubu Dogara, among others.
His position echoed similar submissions by the NFFL National Coordinator, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, alongside former Senate Presidents, Speakers, and other participants, who collectively called for support for President Tinubu to complete two full terms in keeping with the rotational principle that has fostered balance and equity since the advent of the Fourth Republic.
“I appeal that we should abide by the principle of rotation, which has brought sanity and equality since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. Of course, now the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in his first term, and as noted by other speakers, let us not reinvent the wheel.
“We have seen that the rotational system is working. We should allow it to continue. As earlier stated by the Honourable Tunji Ojo, the President is doing well, and some of the steps he is taking are already yielding results for national prosperity. Therefore, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be allowed to serve two full terms,” Senator Barau said, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.
In response to appeals from the NFFL National Coordinator and a former Senate President, Senator Barau also pledged to transmit the proposal for the constitutional entrenchment of the rotational system to the National Assembly. “I will certainly do that,” he assured.
Speaking further on the theme of the summit, the Deputy President of the Senate emphasised the importance of national unity, mentorship, and continuity in governance.
He reaffirmed the willingness of the National Assembly to work closely with the NFFL and similar bodies, noting that governance transcends tenure. “The leadership of the National Assembly remains open to collaboration with NFFL and similar organisations. Governance does not end with tenure, and patriotism is a lifelong responsibility,” he said.
Senator Barau commended the NFFL for organising the summit at a critical time, stressing the continuing relevance of former legislators to Nigeria’s democratic development.
“Former legislators occupy a unique and respected position in our national life. You are men and women who have borne the responsibility of lawmaking. Your experience, institutional memory, and statesmanship remain invaluable assets to the nation,” he stated.
Also speaking in his capacity as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau encouraged former parliamentarians to contribute ideas towards building a stronger and more united Nigeria.
“I congratulate the NFFL for successfully convening this National Summit. I urge you to use this platform to generate ideas, build partnerships, and reaffirm your commitment to a stronger, more united, and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said, adding that the summit highlights the critical role of former legislators in democratic consolidation and nation-building.
At the close of the summit, a communiqué was adopted in which participants passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu and endorsed him as the forum’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election. The motion for the adoption of the communiqué