Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PANDEF/South South), Okey Emuchay (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide/South East), Jare Ajayi (Afenifere/South West), Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt Forum), and Ken Robinson, acting coordinator of the SMBLF, issued a statement criticising the PDP for nominating a northern presidential candidate.
They called the exercise's outcome a "affront" to the people of the South and urged MPs in the region to reject any candidacy for the vice presidency.
The SMBLF, on the other hand, asked presidential candidates in the South to reject individuality and self-confidence in favour of working together to achieve the common goal of creating President Muhammadu Buhari's successor in the upcoming elections.
Read How Atiku Atiku Emerges PDP Presidential Flag Bearer For The 2023 General Elections.
"Unfortunately, it appears that Nigeria's unity and peace mean little or nothing to a sector of the country's political elite," the communique said.
"This was demonstrated at the PDP special convention on Saturday, May 28, 2022, where certain candidates from the North were pressured, coerced, and even intimidated into stepping down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who eventually emerged as the party's flag bearer, in complete disregard for the established principle of zoning and power rotation between the North and South."
"Unquestionably, the single aim is to maintain Northern hegemony, considering that President Buhari, a Muslim from the North and of Fulani descent, will have completed his full eight-year term by this time next year."
"In the interest of posterity, the SMBLF completely opposes Atiku's PDP nomination and urges our people in southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, as well as all sincere lovers of peace and unity, not to vote for him or any other northerner in the 2023 presidential election."
"SMBLF also invites all contestants for the presidency from southern Nigeria to reject pompous individualism and self-confidence in favour of working together to achieve shared goals."
"Once again, the SMBLF urges all politicians of southern ancestry to refuse to serve as a running mate for any northern presidential candidate, as this will be seen as akin to enslaving their people to political slavery."
