The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on northerners and all Nigerians to vote for any candidate of their choice in the upcoming presidential election on Saturday, as well as in the governorship elections on March 11. Unlike in 2019, when the pan‑northern socio‑political organization openly endorsed President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) as the sole candidate from the region for a second term, the ACF has refrained from endorsing any presidential candidate this time. Instead, it urges northern voters to look for candidates with clear, objective party manifestos, solid character, and proven performance records.
In a statement issued by its Secretary‑General, Malam Murtala Aliyu, the ACF warned that voters would do a great disservice to themselves by electing individuals who lack the capacity to perform well or who have questionable character. The statement, titled “Achieving Success with the 2023 General Elections,” emphasized that voters should cast their ballots for preferred candidates regardless of religion or ethnic considerations.
The ACF highlighted the magnitude of the upcoming vote: “In a few days, some 93 million Nigerians will go to the polls to elect a new President, 31 state governors, 469 members of the National Assembly, and 990 members of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.” It noted that this is a gigantic and important exercise. At such times, the ACF traditionally draws voters’ attention to the right qualities to consider when deciding whom to support.
The forum reiterated its key selection criteria: clear and objective party manifestos, and the character and track records of the candidates. It warned that voting for individuals known—or should be known—to lack competence or possess dubious character would be a disservice to the electorate. In the search for good leaders, the ACF urged Nigerians to look beyond ethnic, religious, or geographical interests, stating that a leader does not have to come from one’s own tribe, zone, region, or religious persuasion. Instead, voters should seek leaders who best serve national interests and are elected within the tenets of democratic processes.
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