Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Reject North's Power Shift

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has firmly rejected any power shift to the North in the upcoming 2027 general elections, insisting that the presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria. This position was articulated in a communiqué issued after an emergency general meeting held on Saturday in Kaduna.

The forum, which includes leaders such as Afenifere's Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Bitru Pogu of the Middle Belt Forum, and John Azuta Mbata of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, warned that abandoning the zoning arrangement could threaten Nigeria's political stability. They called for an urgent amendment to the contentious sections of the Electoral Act and reiterated the need for the establishment of state police to tackle the increasing insecurity and economic hardships across the country.

The SMBLF also expressed concerns about the independence of the National Electoral Commission and the judiciary's role in maintaining democracy and peace in Nigeria.