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Nigeria's Southern Leaders Forum pushes South retain presidency in 2027
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) met in Abuja and, through a communiqué read by its chairman, Afenifere leader Chief Oladipo Olaitan, reiterated its demand that the Nigerian presidency remain in the Southern region after the 2027 general election. The forum said the arrangement was needed for national political stability and warned that internal democracy within party primaries was eroding, with candidates increasingly chosen by a small elite.
SMBLF also welcomed the proposed creation of state police but insisted that state governors must have the same constitutional authority to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police as the President has over the Inspector‑General. The group called for a new constitution that reflects true federalism, praised recent security gains by the armed forces in Oyo, Zamfara and Borno, and urged the federal government to intensify operations in the Middle Belt states of Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara and Kogi. It placed the burden of ensuring free, fair elections on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Entities
Afenifere · Chief Oladipo Olaitan · Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) · Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) · Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] SMBLF praised recent successes of the armed forces in Oyo, Zamfara and Borno. realnewsmagazine.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] SMBLF called for a new constitution that reflects true federalism. punchng.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] SMBLF said the demand was intended to preserve national political stability. realnewsmagazine.net · www.thisdaylive.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] SMBLF criticised the erosion of internal democracy within Nigeria's political party primaries, saying candidates are chosen by a few individuals. realnewsmagazine.net · www.thisdaylive.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) demanded that Nigeria's presidency remain in the Southern region for the 2027 general election. realnewsmagazine.net · www.fellowpress.com · www.thisdaylive.com · punchng.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] SMBLF urged the federal government to intensify security operations in the Middle Belt states of Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara and Kogi. realnewsmagazine.net · www.thisdaylive.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] SMBLF welcomed the proposed establishment of state police but insisted that state governors must have the same power to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police as the President has over the I punchng.com · www.fellowpress.com