2023 Presidency: We won’t support political parties with northern candidates – Southern, Middle Belt leaders The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum on Thursday met in Abuja and declared that political parties that field northern presidential candidates won’t enjoy their support in the 2023 general elections. Those at the meeting include delegations from the four regional socio-cultural organisations: Afenifere (South West), Ohanaeze Ndigbo (South-East), Pan Niger Delta Forum (South-South) and the Middle Belt Forum (Middle Belt). The leaders include Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere), Prof George Obiozor (Ohanaeze) Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt Forum) and Chief Edwin Clark (PANDEF). In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the leaders, they agreed on the country’s indissolubility and the need for restructuring. They also maintained that power must shift to the Southern region after the eight-year regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in May 2023. The communique partly read, “Arising therefrom, the meeting resolved as follows: “That the extant Constitution and Structure of Nigeria are grossly flawed and lopsided, accordingly, Forum restates its demand for the fundamental restructuring of the country by enacting a new Constitution that would enthrone equity, fairness and justice.It must be One Nation, One System; “Cites that the northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency of the country for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023, hence, the presidency should rotate to the South; Therefore, unequivocally, and in full resolve, call on all political parties in the country to zone their presidential tickets to the south; “Advices that any political party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the South should not expect support from the four regions;