The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) announced on Wednesday that it will not yield to external pressures as the organization’s internal leadership dispute entered its seventh day. This conflict began when Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, the suspended chairman of the Forum’s Board of Trustees (BoT), declared that the terms of four BoT officers, including Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu, had expired on March 10 and urged them to vacate their positions. The NEC quickly challenged this statement, with spokesman Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba labeling the BoT’s actions as “illegal” and contrary to the Forum’s constitution.
In the lead-up to the NEC’s scheduled meeting, police sealed the ACF national secretariat on Sokoto Road in Kaduna, claiming the action was intended to prevent a clash between the two factions. The NEC convened at an undisclosed location and responded by suspending BoT chairman Dalhatu over allegations of financial misconduct and breaches of the Forum’s constitution. In turn, BoT members rejected the suspension and continued to assert that the Secretary-General’s tenure had ended, accusing Aliyu of exacerbating the crisis.
On Monday, the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Muhammad-Baba, issued a statement detailing the outcomes of the NEC session held on March 6. The committee warned that any appointments or assignments made by the BoT or its chairman would be deemed “null, void and of no effect,” and would not be recognized by the organization. The statement also condemned the police’s seizure of the secretariat as an “egregious assault on the constitutional rights” of ACF members in northern Nigeria and beyond.
The NEC demanded the immediate withdrawal of police forces and the reversal of the siege, calling for disciplinary action against those responsible. It commended members who resisted intimidation and reaffirmed its commitment to lawful, democratic processes. The NEC chairman emphasized that the leadership would not succumb to manipulation and urged members to remain resolute in preserving the Forum’s collective voice in national affairs.
Additionally, the committee approved the formation of a new Leadership Selection Committee and instructed the chairman to implement restructuring without interference from the BoT. A vote of confidence was also passed for the National Working Committee, encouraging members to adhere to the ACF constitution.
In closing, the NEC declared the Arewa Consultative Forum “unbroken, undeterred, and more united than ever,” urging Nigerians, particularly those from the North, to unite in support of the rule of law and to reject impunity and abuse of power. While the standoff remains unresolved, the NEC’s firm stance indicates that the Forum will pursue its internal renewal through constitutional channels while monitoring any further actions by security agencies. The next steps are anticipated to involve the newly constituted leadership panel, which will outline a path forward for the ACF’s role in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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