2023: Insistence of southern president, unconstitutional – Northern govs’

by Peregba Jerry

The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said that the South’s insistence on producing the next president of Nigeria, contradicts the provisions of the constitution.

They stated their position after a meeting in Kaduna on Monday.

In a communique signed by the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman of the Forum, Simon Lalong, the governors said the position of their colleagues in the south is “condemnable”.

Southern governors have consistently insisted that power must shift to their region.

However, Lalong said in the communique: “The Forum observed that some Northern State Governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three geopolitical zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation. Notwithstanding their comments, the Forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South,” the communique reads.

“The statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, that the elected President shall: score the majority votes; score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation. In the case of run-up, simple majority wins the election.”