The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has reaffirmed its opposition to any move to return Nigeria’s presidency to the North after the 2027 general election, declaring that retaining the office in the South is crucial for national stability, equity, and the preservation of the country’s unity.
The influential regional coalition made its position known on Tuesday at the conclusion of its regular general meeting in Abuja, where delegates from its four constituent bodies—Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)—gathered to deliberate on pressing national issues.
Reading the communiqué issued after the meeting, SMBLF Chairman and Afenifere leader, Chief Oladipo Olaitan, said the forum unanimously resolved to maintain its long-standing position that the presidency should remain in the southern region for another four years following the completion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term in office.
According to the forum, allowing the South to retain the presidency beyond 2027 would help consolidate political balance, strengthen national cohesion, and prevent tensions that could arise from disrupting the country’s informal power-sharing arrangement.
“SMBLF reiterates its earlier resolution that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall remain in the southern region in the next four years consequent on the 2027 general election in the interest of national political stability,” the communiqué stated.
The meeting, hosted at PANDEF’s Abuja liaison office, attracted several prominent political and regional leaders, including former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah; former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Godknows Igali; and National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, among others.
Beyond the debate over the presidency, the forum raised alarm over what it described as the steady decline of internal democracy within Nigeria’s political parties, warning that the trend poses a significant threat to democratic governance and citizen participation.
The leaders criticised the conduct of party primaries across the country, alleging that the process has increasingly been hijacked by a handful of powerful political actors who dictate outcomes and impose candidates on party members and the electorate.
According to the forum, democracy loses its essence when citizens are denied the freedom to choose their leaders through transparent and competitive processes.
The communiqué argued that the growing influence of political godfathers and entrenched interests has weakened public confidence in the electoral system and undermined the principles upon which democratic governance is built.
“The essence of democracy is free choice by the people. The situation of one person or an oligarchy of a few choosing candidates in a political system that excludes independent candidates is antithetical to democracy and national development,” the forum declared.
As part of its proposed reforms, SMBLF renewed calls for constitutional amendments that would allow independent candidacy, arguing that such a measure would widen political participation, reduce the dominance of established political structures, and provide Nigerians with broader democratic choices.
The regional leaders also revived their long-standing demand for comprehensive restructuring of the Nigerian federation, insisting that the current constitutional framework has failed to adequately address the country’s governance, security, and development challenges.
In a strong political signal ahead of the 2027 elections, the forum announced that it would mobilise support only for presidential aspirants who demonstrate a clear commitment to producing a new constitution founded on the principles of true federalism.
The group maintained that meaningful constitutional reforms remain essential to addressing longstanding grievances across Nigeria’s diverse regions and creating a more balanced, inclusive, and efficient system of governance.
With political alignments already beginning to take shape ahead of the next general election, the latest declaration by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum is expected to intensify national conversations around power rotation, restructuring, electoral reforms, and the future direction of Nigeria’s democracy.
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