Traditional rulers across the South-West and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) have endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, insisting that the presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria until 2031 to sustain power rotation and promote national unity.
However, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has rejected the rotational presidency arrangement, describing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic and arguing that presidential succession should be determined through democratic competition.
The contrasting positions emerged after a meeting of the South-West Council of Obas and Traditional Rulers on Wednesday at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Oke Aremo, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The meeting, attended by prominent monarchs from the six South-West states, endorsed the continuation of Southern leadership beyond the 2027 elections, describing power rotation as essential to political stability, equity, inclusiveness and national cohesion.
In a communiqué read by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Council maintained that the presidency should remain in the South in the next electoral cycle, arguing that the arrangement had helped preserve political balance and mutual trust among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The monarchs said: “The principle of rotational presidency has, over the years, contributed significantly to political stability, inclusiveness, and national cohesion across Nigeria.
“In the interest of fairness, equity, and the continued strengthening of national unity, the Council expressed the view that the rotational arrangement should be sustained and that the presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria in the next electoral cycle, in line with the spirit of power rotation that has helped preserve peace and stability in the country.”
Beyond the question of presidential succession, the monarchs reaffirmed their support for Tinubu and his administration, acknowledging the Federal Government’s efforts to address national challenges and advance its development agenda.
They urged traditional rulers across the region to intensify grassroots mobilisation and sensitisation to encourage citizens to support government programmes and policies.
The Council also endorsed the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as a strategic intervention to strengthen internal security and improve responses to security threats. It urged traditional rulers to sensitise youths in their communities to take advantage of employment and other opportunities that could emerge from the initiative.
On the economy, the monarchs aligned themselves with the Federal Government’s opposition to the reintroduction of fuel subsidy, arguing that a return to the regime would undermine long-term economic development and fiscal sustainability.
They commended Tinubu for establishing a new military brigade in Oyo State, describing it as a boost to the South-West’s security architecture. They also acknowledged the impact of ongoing Federal Government infrastructure projects, noting that they had improved connectivity and economic activity.
The Council called for peaceful, free and credible elections in 2027, condemning electoral violence, intimidation, vote-buying and other malpractices. It also pledged to strengthen engagement with traditional institutions in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country to promote national integration and peaceful coexistence.
The meeting was attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; the Alake of Egbaland; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti; the Soun of Ogbomoso; the Deji of Akure; the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi and other monarchs from the region. The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, was absent.
Middle Belt Backs Southern Presidency, Expects Reciprocity In 2031
Aligning itself with the monarchs, the Middle Belt Forum declared support for the continuation of Southern leadership until 2031 and endorsed Tinubu’s re-election.
The Forum, however, said its support was based on the expectation that Southern political leaders would reciprocate by backing a Middle Belt presidential candidate in 2031.
MBF spokesman, Luka Binniyat, told LEADERSHIP that the Forum had consistently maintained that presidential power should remain in the South until 2031.
He recalled that Middle Belt leaders, led by former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), had recently visited the Presidential Villa to demonstrate their support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Binniyat said: “Our position has been that power should be retained in the South up to 2031. But apparently, you can see that our leaders also went to the Presidential Villa recently to show support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“So what the South-West monarchs have done is take the position of the Middle Belt Forum. We are doing this with the understanding that, in 2031, the way we support the South to retain their presidency, we also expect the same support for the Middle Belt, and we hope the South-West monarchs will drum it into Mr President’s ear.
“We are fully supporting Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.”
ACF Rejects Rotational Presidency
The Arewa Consultative Forum, however, faulted the position of the South-West monarchs and the Middle Belt Forum, insisting that rotational presidency had no constitutional backing and should not be treated as a binding requirement in Nigeria’s democratic process.
The ACF said the monarchs were entitled to express their views but maintained that power rotation was merely a gentleman’s agreement among political parties and politicians, not a constitutional provision.
The Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad Baba, told LEADERSHIP that Nigeria should adhere to democratic principles if it was committed to practising democracy.
“Our position is that if we are practising democracy, let us practise democracy. And if we have to have this, it should probably be made through a constitutional arrangement.
“But for now, we think it is not ideal for democracy, and that is our position,” he said.
Credit: Leadership