Northern group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has declared it does not have any preferred candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
According to ACF, any political party and its candidate must unveil what programme they have for the Northern region before they could enjoy its support.
ACF, which issued a stern warning to its members against supporting candidates in its name, stated the Forum is not a political party and will not endorse anyone for the 2023 presidency.
This was contained in a communique signed by the Chairman of ACF, Chief Audu Ogbeh after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, on Wednesday, January 26.
The communique read in part;
“We have always complained of late of the security situation in the north. We are still worried about this. The security conditions in the north are far from satisfactory. We urge the Federal and state government to embark on measures that will improve the situation.
“We had proposed in the past that a meeting with Afenifere/Ndigbo. This meeting has not held because of logistic problems. This will soon be worked out and members informed accordingly.
“ACF is not a political party to endorse any candidate. Our plans to have meetings with Afenifere, Ohanaeze, South South People Congress is still on course because there is need to put a stop to abusive words against one region or the other.
“We should desist from endorsing any candidate for the 2023 presidency. If anybody asks you about endorsement, tell such person that we are not a political party.
“Even for the 2023, we do not know yet who the candidate is. We are not a political party. We do not participate in political activities except where it becomes necessary. May God help us with good candidate. It is only the Almighty God that can solve our problem.
“ Our plans to have meetings with our counterpart; South South People’s Congress, Afenifere, Ohanaeze is still in progress. Once we are done with the plans we will let you know.
“We need to make peace. Abusive words on social media will not help us. We don’t want chaos in this country. If we turn refugees, where do we go? We will abandon all our property because we can not carry anything along with us other than Ghana-Must-Go bag”.
