The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is set to meet with all the presidential candidates taking part in the 2023 general elections.
OsunDaily News reports that the forum made this known in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday.
In the communiqué read by its Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, the forum said the purpose of the meeting was to know the candidates’ policies and agenda for Nigerians.
The forum said presidential candidates expected at the meeting include that of the Peoples Democratic People’s (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; his All Progressives Congress’ counterpart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; as well as the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, among others.
It however advised politicians to guard their utterances during and after the elections and urged all candidates to let their campaigns be issue-based.
The communique reads, “The ACF advises politicians to play politics by the rule. They must guard their utterances and everything possible to avoid heating the polity. Campaigns should be issue-based.
“It has been observed that there is already voter apathy. Sectarian and divisive issues must be avoided at all costs to further discourage rational voters from exercising their civic rights.
“Nigeria must be safe and stable for any meaningful progress to be achieved and for the winner, whoever he may be to give leadership.
“It is in this regard that the ACF, together with other Northern groups, arrange to meet with various presidential candidates to know their policies towards uniting and developing the entire country.”
The group also enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the 2023 general elections be free, fair and transparent.
While expressing its concern over the prevailing security situation across the country, especially in the North, the ACF urged security agencies to root out terrorists for peace to reign ahead of the polls.
This article was originally published on OsunDaily News
