Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a political advocacy group, the South-North Progressive Forum, SNPF, has embarked on a nationwide campaign for power rotation.
The Forum is demanding that the presidency be officially zoned to the southern part of Nigeria to correct a historic power imbalance and foster national unity.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Chairman of the SNPF, Comrade Festus Onyekwulisi, articulated the group’s mission, presenting a data-driven case for equitable power rotation between the North and South.
“It is not enough for few political elites to agree to the zoning of 2027 presidency to the South, there must be a conscious mobilization to ensure that millions of citizens across southern states as well as the 19 northern states actively buy into this idea and we are quietly leading the building of a national consensus that would impact the voting process in 2027,” Onyekwulisi stated.
The SNPF is also calling on the National Assembly to enact laws formalizing power rotation for elective positions.
The group is equally urging all political parties – including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, which is yet to zone its presidential ticket – to embrace zoning to the South in 2027, for the sake of national stability.
“As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the South-North Progressive Forum is positioning itself as a potent, issue-based movement determined to ensure that the next election is fought on the tenets of equity and justice, potentially reshaping the nation’s political landscape,” the SPNF leader stated
Citing Nigeria’s democratic history since 1957, Onyekwulisi revealed a stark disparity – the North has held the presidency for a cumulative 24 years, compared to the South’s 18 years.
He argued that allowing the South another four-year term in 2027 is not a matter of political favour but a necessary step to reinforce the principles of fairness, federal character, and national cohesion.
“This is not about mere politics, it is about national integration, equity, justice, and fairness, it is about ensuring national cohesion so that we have peace in this nation; our vision is a Nigeria where no group dominates, but where every section has a genuine sense of belonging,” he stated.
Beyond advocacy, the SPNF says it plans to galvanise a minimum of 10 million votes to ensure the emergence of a southern President in 2027.
Onyekwulisi said the group has already put a mobilization framework framework in place with the appointment of coordinators across the country.
To combat voter apathy and the menace of electoral malpractices, Onyekwulisi said the group is running simultaneous sensitization programs, warning that politicians who are planning to weaponize insecurity, hunger, or religious and ethnic sentiments will be disappointed in 2027.
“Those antics have expired, the 2027 election is not going to be politics as usual; any politician who wants to coerce Nigerians will fail woefully and Nigerians will vote their conscience,” he asserted.
According to Onyekwulisi, a unique feature of the SNPF’s strategy is its introduction of a new political philosophy termed ‘Rightful Defection’, a concept which, according to him, provides a shield for its non-partisan members to freely support a southern candidate of their choice, based on competence and equity, irrespective of official party affiliations.
Asked whether the group is considering transformation into a political party, Onyekwulisi said, “This is not about politics, this is about patriotism, this is about national integration, this is about equity, peace, and the progress of Nigeria.”
