Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Northern political leaders, under the aegis of the National Political Consultative Group, NPCG (North), have agreed to present a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu.

The leaders, who also resolved to unveil a political platform for this purpose, urged Nigerians to sanction governors and other elected officials who recently endorsed Tinubu for a second term, without prior consultation with their constituents.

These resolutions were reached at the end of a meeting held by the group, Sunday evening, in Abuja.

Those present at the meeting included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and former Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who sent a representative.

The NPCG, in a communiqué by the group’s Chairman, Mr. Babachir Lawal, expressed deep concern about “the worsening security situation, which has aggravated poverty, loss of lives and property, unemployment, and destitution throughout the Northern region.

Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said: “The group was founded to unite Northern political leaders, forge strong relationships, and work as a united interest group, preferably within a political party framework.

“Delegates acknowledged that insecurity has reached unprecedented levels under the current administration, worsening poverty, hunger, destitution, and causing a near collapse of education at the primary and secondary levels.

“Delegates agreed that the three major drivers of any society are fear, emotions, and knowledge, and resolved that the North must not be driven by fear or emotions, but by knowledge.

“They resolved that the North must proceed with a united front in its political choices to ensure the region secures maximum benefits from national political participation.

“They urged for the immediate unveiling of the political platform through which the region’s interests will be pursued.

“The group agreed on the need to extend its initiatives to all 19 Northern states and the FCT through the provision of an appropriate operational template.

“It resolved that the region must prioritise and promote industrialisation and high productivity across all sectors to escape the current economic crisis. It emphasised that building a united North must involve addressing issues of equity, fairness, and justice, both within and among states.