Elder Anthony Sani, Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI and SARAH JACK speaks on the position of the forum on the 2019 presidential election and other issues. Excerpts:

What is the position of the ACF on the choice of presidential candidate for the 2019 election. Is ACF backing any particular candidate?

Though of the 76 presidential candidates only about six are from the North, I want to believe your attention is on the two candidates of the two major political parties, namely, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both President Muhammadu Buhari of APC and former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar of PDP are Northerners and Fulanis Muslims. As a result, politics of identity like region, religion and ethnicity cannot be to the advantage for any of them. That is why politics of real issues of real concern to real ordinary Nigerians will most likely preoccupy the campaigns and enlighten the electorate for informed judgement during the elections.

It is not the practice by ACF to endorse candidates but to help educate voters make informed decisions on the Election Day.This is because the forum comprises members across party lines. And any attempt by the forum to openly prefer a candidate or political party may not be accepted by members from other political parties. But ACF has pamphlet which lists qualities in purposeful leaders. The party manifesto and records of candidates are also helpful to the voters.

What factors do you think will determine the outcome of the election?

There are many factors which will determine the outcome of the elections. For the incumbent president, his records in the first tenure as to whether he has recorded some progress in the fight against insurgency and fight against corruption in order to enable the economy take root and prosper, given the paucity of resources, should speak for or against the regime, especially in the North.

As to the South West, it has six states that are controlled by the ruling party. The South- West zone may not be in hurry to leave the gravy train of this government.

The South East is still considering whether to vote President Buhari in order to have the moral courage to ask for support for president in 2023,considering the fact that President Buhari is the only one who has one tenure to go and South West is also in the South and can lay claim to the presidency. Yet, we must not lose sight of the fact that South East and South South are the hub of the main opposition party whose presidential candidate has also promised he will do one tenure and also restructure the country, albeit they still want to know the specifics in the pledge.

The defections will also affect the elections, especially in North Central states of Kwara and Kogi. In North East, the performance of the current regime in the fight against Boko Haram will largely influence their decision to vote APC or PDP in 2019.
https://www.independent.ng/2019-why-acf-wont-endorse-either-buhari-or-atiku-sani/

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