2027: North to Unveil Preferred Presidential Candidate Plans April convention to address insecurity

By our Correspondent

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, an Arewa group has disclosed that the nineteen states in Northern Nigeria will announce their preferred presidential candidate in April this year.
The announcement, according to the group, will be made during a northern convention scheduled for April.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday while outlining activities to commemorate the 2026 Sardauna Memorial Day, the group, operating under the umbrella of the Rebuild Arewa Initiative for Development (RAID), said the North is grappling with deep, interconnected challenges that can no longer be tackled through silence, denial or fragmented approaches.
The group expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation across Northern Nigeria and revealed plans to convene a major regional convention aimed at forging a unified strategy on security, development and inclusive governance ahead of the 2027 polls.
It explained that the proposed April convention would serve as a non-partisan platform for Northern stakeholders to jointly address the region’s pressing socio-economic, political and security challenges.
Saturday gathered that the Arewa group has reached out to various northern organisations, with the April convention intended to ensure that all interest groups adopt a common position on the 2027 elections.
Reading from a prepared statement, RAID’s Director of Communications and Publicity, Comrade Bitako Abubakar Umar, said the convention would bring together political, traditional and religious leaders, as well as youth and women groups, civil society organisations, professionals and business leaders.
According to Umar, participants would work towards articulating a shared position on restoring peace, combating poverty and unemployment, revitalising education and strengthening governance across the North.
He explained that the initiative is designed to produce a people-driven roadmap to guide leadership choices and policy direction ahead of the 2027 elections, while reaffirming the North’s commitment to unity, constructive engagement and national development.
Umar warned that the prevailing insecurity—characterised by banditry, terrorism, farmer-herder clashes and kidnappings—poses a serious threat not only to the region but also to Nigeria’s overall stability and prosperity.
Responding to questions from journalists, he attributed the worsening insecurity to weak prosecution of criminals, poor governance and the failure to effectively implement key social policies, particularly in the education sector.
He decried what he described as a culture of impunity, noting that reports of previous commissions of inquiry were rarely followed up with prosecutions.
Umar also criticised the payment of ransom to kidnappers, saying it deepens inequality and encourages criminal activities. He further blamed the poor implementation of the Universal Basic Education policy for the rising number of out-of-school children, many of whom, he said, are easily recruited by extremist and criminal groups operating in the region.
Beyond security issues, he said political interference, historical injustices and selective remembrance of national leaders have continued to fuel discontent in the North, stressing the need for inclusive dialogue and recognition of shared sacrifices in nation-building.
Earlier, RAID’s Secretary, Comrade Kabiru Duhu, renewed calls for Northern Nigeria to emulate the leadership philosophy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, describing his legacies as vital to tackling insecurity, poverty and weak institutions.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria from 1954 until his assassination in 1966, was widely regarded as a visionary leader who prioritised education, unity, institutional development and moral leadership.
Duhu recalled that the Sardauna’s administration established key institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University, as well as teachers’ colleges, scholarship programmes and agricultural initiatives that promoted economic growth and social cohesion in the region.
He noted that the Sardauna’s inclusive governance style, personal integrity and long-term planning remain relevant today.
Other speakers at the briefing emphasised that restoring ethical leadership, rebuilding strong institutions, investing in education and youth empowerment, and promoting unity over division are critical to the North’s peace and development.
They concluded that Northern Nigeria’s path to stability and prosperity lies in deliberately adapting the principles and values exemplified by Sir Ahmadu Bello.