The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a prominent northern socio-cultural organisation, has stated that it is unconstitutional to restrict Nigerians from the northern region from contesting the presidency in the 2027 general elections. According to the ACF, the Nigerian constitution does not provide for the presidency to rotate or revolve between the North and the South. This stance was made known by the ACF national publicity secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad Baba.
Prof. Baba made these remarks in response to comments made by some politicians, suggesting that the northern region should wait until 2031 to produce a presidential candidate. He described these comments as "personal opinions" that are not binding on anyone. According to him, such remarks are not new and are part of the normal discussions among politicians who are comfortable with the current political arrangement.
The ACF spokesman emphasised that the constitution does not support the idea of rotational presidency, and therefore, anyone can contest for the position regardless of their region or tribe. He described the idea of restricting candidates based on primordial factors such as religion, region, or tribe as "retrogressive ideology." This, he argued, denies the country the benefits of having the best candidates.
Prof. Baba further stated that such remarks are a reflection of the backwardness of Nigerian politics, where emphasis is placed on allocations rather than credibility, ability, suitability, and competence. He expressed concern that the country is oscillating between extremes, rather than focusing on finding a way forward.
The ACF's position is that anyone, regardless of their background, should be free to contest for the presidency if they meet the constitutional requirements. The organisation believes that the country's democracy is not served by restricting the participation of certain groups or individuals in the electoral process.
The comments attributed to the Kano governor, which sparked this reaction from the ACF, are seen as part of a larger debate about the future of Nigerian politics. While some politicians may argue that certain regions or groups should be given priority, others, like the ACF, believe that this approach is unconstitutional and counterproductive.
Ultimately, the ACF's position is that the country's electoral process should be guided by the principles of democracy, rather than primordial factors. The organisation believes that by focusing on the best candidates, regardless of their background, Nigeria can make progress towards a more inclusive and effective democracy.
Key points
- The Arewa Consultative Forum says it's unconstitutional to restrict northerners from contesting presidency.
