The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced the suspension of its Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, following statements he made regarding the 2027 presidential elections. This decision comes shortly after the ACF’s National Executive Council (NEC), led by Osuman, expressed plans to support a Northern candidate for the presidency.
The ACF Board, expressing dissatisfaction with the unilateral nature of Osuman’s statements, emphasized that the remarks did not reflect the collective opinion of the organization. In a statement released by Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu, Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees (BoT), and Murtala Aliyu, the National Secretary, the Board clarified that Osuman’s comments were made without proper consultation with other ACF leaders and members.
The statement read: “The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, Chairman, ACF National Executive Council (NEC), claiming that the North will back a northern candidate for the presidency in 2027. These statements were made without consulting other ACF leaders, reflecting only Mr. Osuman’s personal opinion. As a result, the ACF has decided to suspend him with immediate effect and has established a committee for further investigation.”
Osuman’s suspension was announced shortly after a visit to the ACF Headquarters in Kaduna by members of the League of Northern Democrats (LND). During this visit, the LND sought to forge alliances with the ACF, the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) to challenge the current political dynamics.
Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, the LND Chairman and former Kano State governor, emphasized the importance of unity among Northern groups to advance their common goals for regional development and leadership. Shekarau, represented by Ibrahim Isa Bio, a former Transportation Minister, described the meeting as a pivotal move towards forming a transformative coalition in Northern Nigeria.