With regard to magnetic centering force, I believe it could be resolved by jumpering 2 poles 180 mechanical degrees apart. But that means losing two poles of the same magnetic polarity, potentially creating problems with homopolar flux. And not just losing them but as waross mentioned turning them into magnetic short circuits. Potentially carrying as much flux as is required to saturate that portion of iron.
There are also a lot of space and time harmonic effects to consider. One is time harmonics owing to the saturated unexcited poles as mentioned. Another is the spatial perturbation from siniusoidal of the rotating flux wave. I think these can have unpredictable effects on vibration and performance. In a similar way torquing and cogging and crawling are attibuted to spatial harmonics associated with slot combinations in induction motors (before OEM's learned how to avoid the problematic slot combinations to manage the harmonic effects)
Is this any kind of standard repair method? I'm aware failed stator coils can be electrically cut out of induction motor windings with careful review using stanrdardized evaluation criteria, but that does not allow cutting out an entire pole as far as I recall. If you are not following some standard repair method, then it sounds like a research project (which is codeword for risky in most industrial repair environments).
TLDR - unless you have advice from someone who has evaluated this and says it is acceptable, I would strongly advise against it.