The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended its National Chairman, Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, over what it described as an unauthorised statement regarding the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued in Kaduna and jointly signed by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu and Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, the Chairman and Secretary of the ACF Board of Trustees respectively, the forum distanced itself from comments made by Osuman during a recent meeting.
The ACF disclosed that Osuman had stated that the North would back a northern presidential candidate in 2027, a position reported by some media outlets.
However, the forum clarified that this stance was not deliberated upon or approved by its leadership.
“The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee (NEC), which were made during the meeting of the NEC, held Wednesday, November, 2024, at ACF Headquarters, Kaduna,” the statement read.
“In particular, Mr. Osuman was quoted as saying the North will back a northern candidate for the presidency, come 2027. The statements were made by the NEC Chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus, reflected Mr. Osuman’s personal opinion only.”
The forum confirmed that Osuman’s suspension was necessary to preserve its non-partisan stance and reputation as a sociocultural organisation.
Arewa Think Tank Refutes Claims of Political Bias
Adding to the controversy, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) dismissed as “fabricated lies” reports that the ACF had abandoned President Bola Tinubu and endorsed northern candidates for the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Muhammad Yakubu, the Convener of ATT, maintained that the ACF remains apolitical and does not act as a representative of any political interest.
“ACF is not a political organisation that can speak as an opposition party. ACF is apolitical and all its members belong to different political parties, including the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). So, the forum cannot decide for political parties against President Tinubu,” Yakubu stated.
He criticised media reports suggesting otherwise, describing them as “imaginative news stories hanging on the heels of fake news.”
Yakubu also referenced the ACF’s interaction with the League of Northern Democrats (LND), emphasising that while the forum acknowledged receiving a proposal from the group, it urged them to begin grassroots efforts if they aimed for long-term political goals.
League of Northern Democrats Calls for Coalition
Meanwhile, the League of Northern Democrats (LND) has initiated discussions with the ACF, aiming to form what it described as a “transformative coalition” to address the North’s pressing challenges.
At a meeting held at the ACF secretariat in Kaduna, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, represented by former Transport Minister Ibrahim Bio, outlined the region’s struggles, including poverty, insecurity, illiteracy, religious intolerance, and disunity.
“This marks the beginning of what we hope will be a transformative coalition for Northern Nigeria,” Shekarau stated.
“The challenges facing our region – poverty, insecurity, illiteracy, religious intolerance, disunity, and diminishing political influence – are indeed serious. The North is today in an ugly situation. Yet, we all know that the situation is reversible. It only requires commitment, collaboration, and a shared vision from all of us,” he added.
The LND commended the ACF’s role in preserving the North’s cultural values and urged greater collaboration to tackle the region’s developmental issues.
Looking Ahead
The unfolding events underscore the delicate balance between sociocultural organisations and political influences in Northern Nigeria.
As stakeholders navigate these dynamics, calls for unity and focused leadership are gaining momentum.
