Soberekon Calls For Postponement Of 2027 Elections, Six-Region Restructuring

Niger Delta elder statesman and activist, Rev(Dr) Sokari Soberekon, has called for the postponement of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, arguing that the country should first undertake political restructuring to avert what he described as a possible crisis.

Soberekon made the call during an interview in Port Harcourt, in which he advocated the restructuring of Nigeria into six regions based on the country’s geopolitical zones.

He argued that presidential elections should no longer be conducted on a nationwide basis, but that political leadership should emerge from the respective zones, with the six regions subsequently participating in a central governing arrangement.

According to him, the 2027 presidential election should be put on hold while the country considers a new political structure.

“I am saying that the presidential election should wait. It will trigger crisis in the country. Let us split into six regions in peace and live together. Anything that will cause trouble, we should avoid it,” he said.

Soberekon said his proposal was aimed at preventing political competition from escalating into conflict, stressing that Nigeria should take steps to address potential sources of tension before proceeding with another nationwide presidential election.

He said the six geopolitical zones should be allowed to produce their respective leaders, who would then constitute a central ruling council.

The proposed arrangement, according to him, would involve six presidents representing the six zones, with the leadership of the central government rotating among them.

He explained that each president would serve at the centre for two years, resulting in a 12-year rotational arrangement involving the six regions.

The Octogenarian had previously advocated a similar restructuring proposal, calling for six autonomous nations based on the South-East, South-South, South-West, North-East, North-West and North-Central zones. In his earlier proposal, the six presidents would form a ruling council and rotate the chairmanship every two years.

He maintained that his latest call was motivated by his concern for the continued peace and unity of Nigeria.

“I am a minister of the gospel and, honestly, some call me ordinary man doing extraordinary things. This is part of the extraordinary things I am doing now. You should not put it down,” he said.

The elder statesman was asked whether his proposal was realistic given that preparations for the 2027 general election had already commenced and INEC had released an electoral timetable.

In response, Soberekon insisted that the electoral process should be suspended in the interest of national stability.

“INEC should wait. The election should wait to save the country, because the election will trigger crisis, religious crisis and what have you,” he said.

He was also asked whether the restructuring arrangement he was proposing could not itself generate tension, particularly because President Bola Tinubu is from the South, the North having earlier ruled for eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the 2027 election would ordinarily involve another presidential contest.

Soberekon rejected the suggestion, maintaining that the regional arrangement would provide a mechanism for each part of the country to participate in leadership.

He expressed concern about a scenario in which an election result could be rejected by sections of the country, arguing that such a situation could create tension.

He therefore urged Nigerians to consider what he described as a preventive political solution before the next presidential election.

Soberekon also acknowledged that Nigeria currently operates under a constitutional democratic system and that his proposed restructuring would require constitutional changes.

When asked whether constitutional amendment could be achieved within the time available, he argued that the process should begin immediately.

“They should amend it now,” he said, arguing that the time required to amend the Constitution would be preferable to waiting until a crisis develops.

According to him, the country should convene an emergency meeting to consider the restructuring proposal and make the necessary constitutional changes.

“The time to quench the fire would be more than the constitution. You will need to convene an emergency meeting to discuss what Soberekon is saying,” he said.

He further argued that the National Assembly should undertake the necessary constitutional process to facilitate the proposed political restructuring.

The Niger Delta activist said the central objective of his proposal was to preserve peace and ensure that political competition did not become a source of conflict.

He urged Nigerians to vote for leaders from their respective zones and allow the six regional leaders to participate in a central governing council.

Under his proposed arrangement, the regional presidents would collectively deliberate at the centre, while the presidency would rotate among the six zones.

Soberekon described the proposal as a message he believes is necessary for Nigeria at this time.

“My dear brother, this word Soberekon received from the Holy Spirit is for the interest of Nigeria,” he said.

The elder statesman has consistently advocated political restructuring as a solution to some of Nigeria’s longstanding political and economic challenges. In previous interviews, he has called for six autonomous nations, resource control and a rotating central presidency, while insisting that the objective was not secession but a restructuring of the Nigerian federation.

His latest position comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections and as political parties and institutions continue preparations for the electoral cycle.

Soberekon, however, is calling for the country to pause the electoral process and first address what he considers fundamental structural issues through constitutional and political reforms.