No shake-up in leadership, says ACF

The Arewa Consultative Forum has dismissed reports of an alleged change in its leadership, describing the announcement as false, unconstitutional and of no effect.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF said its Chairman, Mr Mike Mamman Osuman (SAN), authorised the disclaimer to correct what it described as misinformation being circulated to members, the media and the general public.

The northern socio-political organisation stressed that no organ of the forum had approved or communicated any leadership change, urging the public to disregard the reports.

“The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum has been drawn to an announcement of a change in the leadership of the organisation.

“The news is totally false, and the purported action from which the announcement was derived is unconstitutional,” the statement said.

The forum stated that the approval of leaders was exclusively vested in its General Assembly, which it noted had yet to be convened for the purpose of filling any vacant positions.

It further clarified that under Section 8(6) of its constitution, the Board of Trustees was only empowered “to give general advice and direction on matters relating to the aims and objectives” of the forum and had no constitutional authority to effect leadership changes.

The statement also faulted the reported constitution of a review committee and the alleged activation of a leadership selection committee, describing both as unconstitutional.

According to the ACF, the power to establish operational committees resides solely with the National Executive Committee under Section 14 of its constitution.

It explained that the last leadership selection committee completed its assignment in 2023 and automatically dissolved after fulfilling its mandate.

“The committee is yet to be reconstituted. NEC is already in the process of reconstituting the selection committee.

“Any action, assignment, function or announcement by persons claiming to exercise such powers is irregular, unconstitutional and will remain unrecognised,” it added.

The forum reaffirmed that Mallam Murtala Aliyu remains the substantive Secretary-General until a successor emerges through due constitutional process.

It also reminded members that only the National Publicity Secretary and designated deputies were constitutionally empowered to issue official statements on behalf of the organisation.

The ACF expressed regret over the development, saying it could create a false impression of an internal crisis within the northern pressure group.

“It is highly regrettable that the ACF is forced to issue this statement, which may send wrong signals about some leadership crisis in the organisation. There is no such crisis,” the statement read.

The forum, however, alleged that it had become aware of “clandestine and subterranean moves” aimed at destabilising the organisation through internal and external actors.

It assured members and supporters that the current leadership remained committed to protecting the integrity of the forum and ensuring strict adherence to its constitutional provisions.

The statement urged members to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting further official communication from the leadership.

The PUNCH reports that the ACF is one of northern Nigeria’s foremost socio-cultural and political advocacy groups established to promote the collective interests of the region and provide a platform for addressing issues affecting northern Nigeria.

In recent months, the forum has remained vocal on matters of national security, governance, economic hardship and constitutional reforms, often issuing policy recommendations to government at all levels.