ABUJA — The South-North Progressive Forum (SNPF) has launched a nationwide campaign advocating fairness, equity, and rotational presidency, insisting that Nigeria’s highest office should remain in the South come 2027.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, the forum’s chairman, Festus Onyekwulisi, argued that keeping power in the South would help correct historical imbalances and foster national unity.
“Our analysis of Nigeria’s political history reveals that the North has held the presidency for about 24 years, while the South has only had 18. Giving the South another four years in 2027 will correct this imbalance and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic spirit of inclusion,” Onyekwulisi said.
He disclosed that the SNPF has set up structures in over 30,000 communities nationwide, with coordinators already mobilising towards securing 10 million votes for a southern candidate. The forum, he noted, is pushing for a citizen-driven consensus rather than leaving zoning solely to elite negotiations.
Onyekwulisi explained that the forum’s principle of “rightful defection” urges voters to prioritise competence, equity, and credibility over blind party loyalty. While canvassing for a southern president in 2027, he pledged SNPF’s support for a northern candidate in 2031 as part of its long-term commitment to national integration.
The group also appealed to all political parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to embrace fair zoning arrangements.
In addition, the forum renewed calls for constitutional reforms granting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) full state status, citing the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Abuja’s equality with other states. SNPF proposed that the FCT should have a governor, three senatorial districts, representatives in the House of Representatives, and enhanced federal allocations.
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