2027: Middle Belt Organisation Stands Firm on Southern Presidential Bid

The Middle Belt Coalition for the Protection of Democracy, a coalition of civil society groups, is adamant that the presidency should be zoned to the South in 2027, a demand they consider non-negotiable.

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Prince Pam Rwang, the group's chairman, made this stance clear at a press conference in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday, following the COPDEM and African Democratic Congress strategic conference, which drew several regional leaders together.

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The chairman emphasized that the Middle Belt's support will exclusively go to a southern presidency in the upcoming 2027 elections, viewing this as an unequivocal requirement.

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Rwang highlighted the Middle Belt's crucial role as a decisive electoral bridge in shaping national outcomes, noting that a strategic alliance with Southern Nigeria offers the most viable route to electoral success.

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The conference, themed "Nigeria at a Crossroads: Building the Winning Coalition for 2027," culminated in a resolution that the ADC's presidential ticket should be zoned to Southern Nigeria.

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Rwang, who also presented the communiqué from the regional conference, noted that the Middle Belt has no intention of taking a leading role in the 2027 election, as unanimously resolved by the conference.

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Instead, the region aims to position itself as a strategic and decisive political bloc that influences national outcomes through alliances rather than competing sectionally.

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According to the communiqué, the expectation of North-South rotation remains deeply ingrained in voter consciousness, with political platforms that respect this balance enjoying broader national acceptance.

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Rwang cautioned that ignoring expectations of inclusion can lead to significantly reduced electoral support, stressing that fairness and inclusion are essential for national cohesion.

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The group affirmed that the Middle Belt will prioritize coalition-building over sectional competition in the 2027 presidential election, seeking to forge a fair, inclusive, and winning coalition for Nigeria.

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The conference also observed that the Middle Belt has evolved into a conscious, strategic, and decisive political bloc capable of shaping national political outcomes through strategic alliances.