The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Nigeria’s leading socio-cultural organization, has announced that it will back only candidates committed to promoting and defending Northern interests in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the opening of the ACF Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the BOT Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, stated that the era of unconditional support for politicians and political parties is over.
“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,” Dalhatu stated.
Dalhatu, a former Minister of Power and Steel, warned that the region is grappling with severe challenges and called for unity among Northern stakeholders to strengthen their political leverage ahead of the next elections.
His words: “The North 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.”
He made reference to the region’s numerical and institutional strength, pointing out that Northern Nigeria comprises 19 of the country’s 36 states in addition to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and holds major representation in key national bodies.
He said: “We have a majority in the Senate, the House of Representatives, the National Economic Council, and the Council of State.
“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.”
The meeting attracted several influential Northern leaders, including former governors Ibrahim Shekarau, Ramalan Yero, Simon Lalong, and Ahmed Makarfi.
Also in attendance 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 Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former presidential adviser.
Dalhatu also condemned the growing political focus on the 2027 elections, warning that such early alignments distract from governance.
“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,” he said.
He revealed that the forum is considering setting up a special committee to evaluate how the policies and projects of the current administration have affected Northern Nigeria.
“We have received a number of proposals from some of our elders for this body to appoint a special committee to conduct a detailed study and review of the policies, projects, and programmes embarked upon by the current government and determine their impact on various parts of the country, particularly Northern Nigeria,” he added.
