The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has endorsed the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba‑Ahmed, describing them as the best among the contenders. The endorsement was announced on Thursday at a meeting in Abuja attended by leaders of the Middle Belt Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan‑Niger Delta Forum, and a cross‑section of dignitaries and opinion leaders from across the country.
Among those present were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere; Dr Pogu Bitrus, leader of the MBF; Dr Chukwumeka Ezeife, former governor of Anambra State; Bucknor Akerele, former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; and Chief Edwin Clark, leader of PANDEF, among others. At the close of the meeting, SMBLF Coordinator Chief John Nwodo read a communiqué stating that the organization had decided to endorse the Obi/Datti ticket and the Labour Party because they symbolize the mission to rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse.
According to the SMBLF, Obi epitomises the kind of leader Nigeria needs at present, given his track record. The organization emphasized that, beyond the need to entrench justice, equity, and fairness in national leadership, Obi possesses the best leadership qualities among all the presidential front‑runners. The SMBLF called on the leaders of its affiliate groups to return to their regions and mobilise votes for Obi and his party.
Addressing rumors that undemocratic elements were plotting to postpone or derail the forthcoming presidential election, the SMBLF warned that it would not tolerate such moves and would unite in opposition. In his presentation, Chief Adebanjo urged delegates to take the endorsement seriously, noting that the 2023 election might be the last opportunity well‑meaning Nigerians have to salvage the country. The nonagenarian explained that he remains in the struggle for posterity, likening the current effort to install good leadership to the National Democratic Coalition’s fight against military rule in the 1990s. He called for “all hands on deck” to ensure the success of the Obi project, stressing, “Don’t be deceived, this is not just an election, it is a war and our opponents are not sleeping at all.”
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