2023: We don’t have presidential candidates, won’t endorse any —ACF

Arewa Consultative Forum says it does not have any presidential candidate North or South and would endorse any in the coming 2023 election.

The body said it was not a political party, explaining that only political parties have the exclusive preserve to choose their presidential candidates.

According to ACF, the body will only subject candidates to scrutiny after they have been selected by their political parties.

The pan-Northern socio-political organisation spoke in a communiqué signed by the ACF National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, after a meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday.

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In the communiqué, which was made available to journalists by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Emmanuel Yawe, ACF also proposed a meeting with Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other socio-cultural groups ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The communique read, “As the country moves towards 2023. We of the ACF need to remind our members and all that we are not a political party.

“We do not have a candidate and will not endorse one in the 2023 election, North or South. When the political parties, who have the exclusive permission of the Constitution to sponsor candidates, choose a presidential candidate each, we shall engage the candidates and find out what programme they have for the North.”

Speaking earlier at the opening of the meeting, Ogbeh said, “Our plan to have meetings with Afenifere, Ohanaeze and South-South People Congress is still on the course because there is the 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 the endorsement, tell such a person that we are not a political party.”