Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received public backing for a possible second term in office from former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and political commentator Reno Omokri, who jointly declared support for his re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a lengthy political statement released amid growing discussions over Nigeria’s 2027 power dynamics, both men argued that the country’s informal power-sharing arrangement between the North and South should be respected in the interest of national stability and political balance.

The statement referenced the political understanding that emerged at the beginning of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in 1999, under which power has largely rotated between Northern and Southern leaders. They noted that former President Muhammadu Buhari, who governed from 2015 to 2023, completed two full terms as part of that arrangement.

According to them, it would be “unpatriotic and inimical to the unity, equilibrium, and progress of Nigeria” for power to return to the North after only one term under a Southern president.

The duo therefore endorsed President Tinubu as their preferred candidate for the 2027 election, citing ongoing economic reforms and infrastructure projects introduced under his administration.

Among the projects referenced were the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the proposed Illela-Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and the Trans-Saharan Road project aimed at improving connectivity between parts of Northern and Southeastern Nigeria.

Some of the economic figures contained in the statement — including claims that Nigeria recorded 12 cycles of GDP growth, added $67 billion to the economy, and became the sixth-largest contributor to global GDP growth in 2025 — could not be independently verified at the time of reporting. However, official economic data released in recent months has shown improvements in Nigeria’s trade balance and foreign reserves following reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

The statement also drew comparisons with Switzerland, arguing that the European country’s long-standing power-sharing culture contributed to its political stability and national cohesion.

President Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, has repeatedly defended his administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange market changes, describing them as necessary measures to stabilize the economy and attract investment.

Supporters of the administration argue that ongoing infrastructure projects could improve regional integration, trade, and transportation across Nigeria. Critics, however, have continued to raise concerns over the economic hardship caused by inflation, rising living costs, and the pace of implementation of reforms.

The endorsement by Fani-Kayode and Omokri adds to the early political positioning already emerging ahead of the 2027 general election, even as political parties and major stakeholders are yet to formally begin campaign activities.