ACF Pledges Support For Northern Candidates In 2027 Elections.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a prominent northern socio-cultural organisation, has declared its intention to back northern candidates in the 2027 elections as part of efforts to address the region’s challenges. Speaking during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna, the group’s chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, stressed the urgency of rescuing the North from its current socio-economic and security crises.
Osuman criticised the policies of the current administration, describing them as detrimental to the region’s interests. He called for individual and collective action to tackle the North’s problems, including insecurity, poverty, and infrastructure deficits, ahead of the next general elections.
“There is now a clarion call for sacrifices to secure the survival of our region and emancipate our people,” Osuman said. He noted that the North faces challenges such as banditry, terrorism, and inequitable treatment, further urging political leaders, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to act decisively in addressing these issues.
He also questioned the effectiveness of northern leaders in addressing domestic problems and criticised the role of parents, religious figures, and elites in failing to foster public awareness about self-defence and self-preservation. Illegal mining by foreigners, often facilitated by locals, was also highlighted as a pressing concern.
The ACF has aligned with the objectives of the newly formed League of Northern Democrats (LND), a group seeking to address the region’s declining political influence and worsening socio-economic conditions. Osuman called for collective efforts to combat endemic poverty, illiteracy, and insecurity in the North.
In a similar development, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, speaking at the Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Northern Nigeria Youth Development, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, echoed similar sentiments. He criticised past northern leaders for failing to address the region’s development and security issues.
“The people’s patience is running out. They are demanding answers, and we must provide them,” Sani said. He warned that the region’s deteriorating security situation could make it unsafe for people to live in their homes within the next five years if immediate action is not taken.
Governor Sani proposed a Marshal Plan for youth development involving political, business, traditional, and religious leaders, as well as civil society groups. He urged stakeholders to reflect on why the North remains underdeveloped despite substantial investments in its progress.
He recalled a time when the North enjoyed relative peace and prosperity, contrasting it with the current state of terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts. Sani emphasised the need to address the root causes of these issues, which have left many communities desolate and hindered youth development.
Both the ACF and Governor Sani’s comments highlight the urgent need for unity and strategic planning to restore stability and foster growth in Northern Nigeria.
