The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Nigeria’s foremost socio-cultural organisation, has declared that the North will only support candidates in the 2027 general elections who are committed to protecting and promoting the region’s interests.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, chairman of the forum’s Board of Trustees, at the start of the board’s meeting in Kaduna. The meeting was convened to address critical issues affecting the region and the nation at large.
In attendance were four former governors: Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Simon Lalong (Plateau), and Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna). Also present were former Minister of Information Lai Mohammed; retired Army spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; and former political adviser to the president in the office of the vice president, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, among others.
Dalhatu, a former Minister of Power and Steel, emphasised that the region’s loyalty would not lie with any particular political figure or party but with those who genuinely care about the North.
He revealed that the North is monitoring the performance of public officials, particularly those at the federal level, and is considering the establishment of a committee to thoroughly assess government programmes and policies.
“We have received a number of proposals from some of our elders that this body appoints a special committee to conduct a detailed study and review of the policies, projects and programmes embarked upon by the current government and determine how they have impacted the various parts of the country—particularly Northern Nigeria.
“The North has 19 out of the 36 states, and we also have the FCT as a veritable component. We have a majority in the Senate, the House of Representatives, the National Economic Council, and the Council of State. The North occupies close to 75 per cent of Nigeria’s land area and about 60 per cent of the population.
“An area this big and this strong can never be subdued by any opponent, provided we remain united and place our region above all other considerations. United we stand, divided we fall,” he said.
Forum warns against “premature” politicking, echoes Baba-Ahmed’s stance
The ACF also expressed disapproval of the current political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that such distractions are detrimental to governance.
“The view has been expressed—and it bears repeating—that the current preoccupation with the 2027 national elections is premature and a disservice to the principle of the four-year term limit given to elected officials,” Dalhatu said.
He revealed that the North is monitoring the performance of public officials, particularly those at the federal level, and is considering the establishment of a committee to thoroughly assess government programmes and policies.
“We have received a number of proposals from some of our elders that this body appoints a special committee to conduct a detailed study and review of the policies, projects and programmes embarked upon by the current government and determine how they have impacted the various parts of the country—particularly Northern Nigeria.
“This is perhaps the best way to determine whether or not our interests are being sufficiently accommodated. For the avoidance of doubt, we must reiterate our belief in the principle that all politics is local. In other words, Northern Nigeria will remain faithful not to particular politicians or political parties but to those who care about our regional interests and are willing to promote and protect them,” he said.
The ACF’s position appears to align with recent remarks by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who resigned from his role as political adviser to the vice president. Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), had asserted that the North would no longer vote blindly or repeat past mistakes.
“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” he had said.
DAILY TRUST.
