2027 Election: Arewa Rules Out Endorsing Presidential Candidate

2027 Election: Arewa Rules Out Endorsing Presidential Candidate
Forum plans to interview aspirants on northern issues
Position paper will be presented to the eventual president

The Arewa Consultative Forum has ruled out endorsing any candidate in the 2027 presidential election, saying it will instead engage aspirants through interviews to assess their plans for tackling challenges facing northern Nigeria.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the apex northern socio cultural organisation said the process would focus on key issues such as insecurity, poverty, education and economic empowerment across the region.

Speaking with Leadership in Kaduna, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof T A Muhammad Baba, said the forum would begin consultations with presidential hopefuls within the next six months.

According to him, the engagement will follow the same approach adopted by the forum ahead of the 2023 general election.

“We are not going to endorse any presidential candidate or political party in the 2027 elections,” Muhammad Baba said. “Our organisation is diverse. We can only endorse plans and ideas that align with northern interests. We are not partisan.”

He added that the forum would develop a comprehensive position paper on the needs and priorities of northern Nigeria, which would be presented to whoever emerges as president in 2027.

Muhammad Baba recalled that during the 2023 election cycle, the forum invited leading presidential candidates for interactive sessions, but not all of them honoured the invitation.

“Peter Obi came; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came. Atiku Abubakar did not come; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso did not come,” he said.

Several prominent figures have already been mentioned as possible contenders for the 2027 presidential race. They include President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim and Adewole Adebayo.

While presidential party primaries are expected to hold around June, the presidential election itself is scheduled for the first Saturday in February 2027.

The forum also noted that although it endorsed former President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2019 election, it did not support any candidate in 2015 and 2023.

Also speaking, former ACF Secretary General, Anthony Sani, said the organisation deliberately avoids endorsing candidates because its membership spans different political parties.

“The North is united on regional interests, but not on partisan politics,” Sani said. “Endorsing a candidate would fracture the unity of the forum.”

2027 Arewa Endorsing Presidential Candidate

In a similar vein, Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, said the region would only back candidates who show genuine commitment to protecting northern interests.

“Northern Nigeria will remain faithful not to politicians or parties, but to those willing to promote and protect its interests,” Dalhatu said.

The ACF added that preparations for the consultations and its position paper would be completed before June 2026.