The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has rejected Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State’s suggestion that Northern politicians should wait until 2031 before contesting for the presidency, allowing President Bola Tinubu, a Southerner, to complete an eight-year tenure.
Governor Bago, during an interview on TVC News, argued that calls for Northern candidates in the 2027 elections are premature and unfair to the Southern region, citing respect for the zoning formula.
In response, ACF spokesman, Tukur Muhammad-Baba dismissed Bago’s remarks as personal opinion, emphasizing that the Nigerian Constitution does not restrict Northerners from running for office.
“Governor Bago was merely expressing his opinion. There’s no constitutional provision to enforce such a position. The Constitution guarantees all citizens the unequivocal right to contest elections,” Muhammad-Baba said.
He further added that similar statements in the past had no tangible impact, referencing instances such as former Kano State Governor Abubakar Rimi’s challenge to President Olusegun Obasanjo during his bid for a second term.
Muhammad-Baba concluded: “For now, this is purely a party matter, and such pronouncements have historically not yielded significant results.”