2027 Elections: ACF Sets Agenda For Candidates

• Lists conditions for North’s support
• Rejects ‘premature’ politicking

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO AND EDMOND ODOK – Amid bickering and complaints of marginalisation within the nation’s political space, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared that the North will only back candidates committed to protecting and promoting the region’s interests in the 2027 general elections

According to the Northern Nigeria’s foremost socio-cultural organisation, the region’s loyalty will not lie with any particular political figure or party but with those who genuinely care about the North

Chairman of the ACF’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, disclosed this on Wednesday at the board’s meeting holding in Kaduna

The meeting, convened to address critical issues affecting the region and the nation at large, has in attendance four former governors: Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Simon Lalong (Plateau), and Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna).

Other personalities in attendance included former Minister of Information Lai Mohammed; retired Army spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; and immediate past Political Adviser to the President in the Vice President’s office, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.

Dalhatu, a former Minister of Power and Steel, said; “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”.

While highlighting the North’s numerical strength and political advantage, the ACF Board Chairman called for unity among stakeholders to overcome challenges and present a formidable bloc.

According to him; “Northern Nigeria is today bedevilled by numerous existential problems. But what is not in doubt is the fact that the North has in abundance what it takes to compete and prevail in any fair competition within Nigeria—and even the wider African continent.

“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”.

Forum Laments Worsening Insecurity
Expressing concern over worsening insecurity across the North despite ongoing efforts by government and security agencies, the former Minister said; “While we remain extremely grateful for the work done by these eminent members, we regret to observe that the situation, particularly that of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, has not improved.

“In fact, despite the best efforts of our increasingly overstretched security forces, it has gotten worse and continues to deteriorate by the day.”

Dalhatu described as unfortunate the persistent attacks and killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and other states, vowing that the Forum would continue to collaborate with leaders to resolve the crisis.

Hear him; “We assure all the people of the North of our determination to take all necessary measures in consultation and collaboration with our political, traditional, religious and other leaders to bring this crisis to an end in the shortest time possible”.

He also condemned attacks on Northerners in the South, lamenting that; “Even innocent Northerners on journeys through southern states get killed or subjected to inhumane treatment—a tragedy which, unfortunately, successive administrations in this country have failed to stop.”

On the perceived discriminatory policies by the federal government that have led to growing resentment and disenchantment among Northerners, the ACF Board of Trustees’ Chairman said; “These negative developments have prompted growing disillusionment amongst northerners against the Federation of Nigeria. Some in the North now openly question the rationale or justification for remaining in the union”.

Cautions Against ‘Premature’ Politicking

Reacting to current political alignments and re-engineering ahead of the 2027 elections, the ACF expressed its disapproval of the development with a warning that they not only constitute distractions but are detrimental to good governance.

He said; “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”.

Hinting that the North is closely monitoring the performance of public officials, particularly those at the federal level, the ACF said plans are on to establish a committee to thoroughly assess government programmes and policies going forward.

“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”.

Interestingly, political watchers have noted that the ACF’s position seems to align with remarks by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who recently resigned as Political Adviser to Vice President Kassim Shettima

In his recent interview, Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), was quoted as saying the North would no longer vote blindly or repeat past mistakes.

He had said; “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”.