Ahead of the 2027 general elections, influential northern stakeholders under the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) have launched consultations to establish a united political front for the region. The move includes plans to hold a Northern Unity Summit in early 2026.
According to the organisers, the initiative seeks to mobilise traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political figures across the 19 northern states to revive the spirit of inclusiveness championed by the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Speaking during the NPCG expanded meeting on Saturday in Abuja, the Director General of NEF, Prof. Doknan Sheni, said the region must first address both internal and external causes of disunity to regain its collective strength. Delivering a keynote address themed “The Imperative of Northern Unity Ahead of 2027 Elections,” Sheni cautioned that failure to manage identity-related tensions could deepen ethno-religious fragmentation in the North and across Nigeria. He urged northern leaders to embark on massive voter enlightenment campaigns before the polls, stressing the need for citizens to vote based on ideology, principle, and credible manifestos rather than emotion or sectional loyalty. “For the North to prepare for 2027, there must be enlightenment programmes to guide voters toward issues-based choices,” Sheni said. “INEC must also ensure transparency in the conduct and transmission of results to build public confidence.”
Sheni proposed that a Northern Leaders’ Summit be convened in the first quarter of 2026 to harmonise political strategies and produce a Northern Development Blueprint, with inputs from all 19 states. He warned against external manipulation of northern divisions, noting that rival political blocs could exploit internal rifts to weaken the region’s influence in national politics. “If we allow outsiders to exploit our differences, we’ll remain divided. Northerners must close ranks, show mutual respect, and pursue justice to heal disunity,” he said.
The NEF DG emphasised that a cohesive regional front was vital for equitable representation, fair resource allocation, and stronger bargaining power at the national level. He also decried the persistent security challenges facing the region—including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder clashes—and called for joint strategies between the Northern Governors’ Forum, NEF, Arewa Consultative Forum, and traditional institutions.
Sheni further advocated for renewed economic cooperation through platforms like the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) to drive investment, job creation, and youth empowerment across the region.
