North’s Political Patience Wears Thin: ACF’s Stark Warning

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has delivered a blunt assessment of Nigeria’s political landscape, declaring that the North is weary of President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra governor Peter Obi.

Speaking on Arise Television, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, said northern voters feel abandoned by a political class that has failed to address insecurity and economic collapse. He warned that none of the leading figures offers a credible alternative as the 2027 presidential race approaches.

Tinubu’s Waning Northern Support

Tinubu’s 2023 victory relied heavily on northern votes. Yet, according to Mohammed-Baba, his policies have left ordinary citizens disillusioned. Rising fuel prices, worsening insecurity, and economic hardship have eroded confidence.

“The impact of his policies on individual lives has been disturbing,” Mohammed-Baba said, pointing to the government’s slow response to terrorism and banditry. He noted that while officials talk of deploying forest guards, research shows over 30,000 terrorists operate in ungoverned spaces across the North.

Insecurity and Self-Help
The ACF spokesman highlighted a disturbing trend: communities forced to defend themselves against bandits. In one northern village, residents refused to abandon their farmland despite threats, choosing collective resistance over flight.

“We are normalising self-help,” he warned. “That undermines the essence of the state.”

This reliance on self-defense, he argued, reflects the government’s failure to protect its citizens and deepens mistrust in political leadership.

Atiku: A Familiar Face, No Fresh Ideas

Turning to Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed-Baba dismissed him as a “recurring decimal” in Nigerian politics. Despite multiple presidential bids, Atiku has failed to present a clear alternative vision.

“All he says is that the government has failed,” Mohammed-Baba remarked. “Where is the substance?”
For northern voters, Atiku’s repeated candidacies without fresh ideas have become uninspiring.

 Obi’s Lost Goodwill

Peter Obi, once seen as a reformist voice, has also lost ground in the North. Mohammed-Baba said Obi’s frequent party defections left voters questioning his purpose.
“He has moved to two or three parties. The question we ask is: what does he want?” he asked.
Obi’s running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also came under fire. Mohammed-Baba condemned Kwankwaso’s attempt to invoke northern icons like Ahmadu Bello and Aminu Kano, calling it offensive and delusional.

“An alternative in terms of what?” he asked. “He has not articulated anything concrete on the economy, security, or infrastructure.”

No Clear Alternative

When pressed to name a credible northern candidate, Mohammed-Baba declined. “We are waiting to see,” he said.
He cautioned the ruling APC against complacency, warning that crushing opposition through defections and court actions could backfire. “Nothing fails like success,” he said, urging vigilance.

The Myth of a Northern Bloc
Mohammed-Baba rejected the notion that the North votes as a single bloc. He stressed the region’s diversity and insisted that no single region can determine Nigeria’s presidential outcome alone.
“The North has never been able to do so outside of military rule,” he said.

Hardship Defines 2027
With fuel prices above N1,300 per litre, millions of children out of school, and bandits imposing levies on farmers in Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara, Mohammed-Baba argued that the 2027 election will not be decided by alliances or regional calculations.

Instead, he said, Nigerians will rally behind whichever candidate offers a credible path out of economic despair and insecurity.
“Is there anybody offering an alternative now?” he asked. “I don’t see anything.”