Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Demand 2027 Presidency in South

Leaders from Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt have asserted that the presidency should remain in the South following the 2027 general elections, a position articulated in a communiqué after a meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) in Abuja on Tuesday. The communiqué was presented by Oladipo Olaitan, the forum’s chairman and leader of Afenifere.

The meeting included representatives from Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). The forum expressed concerns regarding the lack of internal democracy within political parties, criticizing the imposition of candidates by a select few during party primaries.

It called for reforms to enhance internal democracy and support independent candidacy. On security matters, the forum commended the armed forces for recent successes against insecurity in Oyo, Zamfara, and Borno states, while urging intensified military operations in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, and Kogi states.

Additionally, it called for greater collaboration with neighboring countries to address security challenges and emphasized the need for an independent judiciary and a credible electoral process overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).