‎Ex-NASS Members Disown Pro-Tinubu Endorsement Summit, Describe Exercise As “Deceptive Political Carnival” ‎

No fewer than 17 former members of the National Assembly have publicly dissociated themselves from a summit of ex-legislators reportedly convened to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition, describing the exercise as deceptive, contrived, and driven by inducements rather than democratic conviction.

‎According to a report by Daily Trust, the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) on Saturday announced its endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term in office. The summit was convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and attracted a cross-section of former federal lawmakers cutting across party lines.

‎Notable personalities reportedly in attendance included former Senate Presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, as well as former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara, among others.

‎However, shortly after the event, a group of former lawmakers issued a strongly worded joint statement distancing themselves from the gathering and rejecting any endorsement purportedly issued in their name. The statement, released on Saturday, accused the organisers of misleading the public and staging what they termed a politically motivated spectacle.

‎“We state clearly, firmly, and without apology: we are not, and will never be, part of any contrived summit of ex-legislators being hurriedly assembled to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition,” the former lawmakers declared.

‎They warned Nigerians against being misled by what they described as a “staged political exercise,” alleging that the proposed endorsement was driven by financial inducements rather than genuine consultation or collective consensus.

‎According to the signatories, credibility and legitimacy cannot be manufactured through monetary incentives. They characterised the gathering as a “cash-and-carry political carnival,” claiming it involved a rented crowd of handpicked individuals assembled to create artificial legitimacy.

‎“This gathering is nothing but a cash-and-carry political carnival, a rented crowd of handpicked individuals assembled to manufacture artificial legitimacy,” the statement read.

‎The former legislators further argued that a small group of individuals could not claim to speak on behalf of hundreds of former lawmakers across the country.

‎“You cannot assemble a handful of loyalists behind closed doors, distribute inducements, and then falsely claim to speak for the conscience of hundreds of former legislators across Nigeria. That is deception. That is manipulation. That is democratic fraud,” they stated.

‎Emphasising their position, the group warned against the unauthorised use of their names and identities for political purposes, stressing that former lawmakers are not commodities to be traded for political gain.

‎“Former legislators are not for sale. Our names are not commodities. Our legacy is not merchandise,” they asserted.

‎They also cautioned against substituting political endorsements for governance performance, urging the administration to focus on delivering tangible results to Nigerians rather than orchestrating public displays of support.

‎“If this administration believes it deserves a second term, let it present tangible results to Nigerians—security restored, hunger reduced, jobs created, and the economy stabilised. Endorsements do not govern a nation; performance does,” the statement added.

‎The group announced its complete dissociation from the alleged summit, rejected any endorsement issued in its name, and condemned what it described as the growing monetisation of democratic institutions.

‎“Our voices cannot be rented. Nigeria’s democracy will not be auctioned to the highest bidder,” they concluded.

‎The signatories to the statement include Hon. Sergius Oguns, Hon. Herman Hembe, Hon. Sam Okwu, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Tom Zakari, Hon. Mohammed Soba, Hon. Chika Adamu, Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim, and Hon. Tajudeen Ajagbe.

‎Others are Hon. Supo Abiodun, Hon. Danladi Donald Olayonu, Hon. Abubakar Amuda Kannike, Hon. Rufus Omiri, Hon. Mayor Eze, Hon. Kamil Akinlabi, Hon. Shaaba Ibrahim, and Hon. Nkwo Nkole.