Northern Nigerian leaders are coming together for a crucial summit to strengthen the region’s political and economic standing ahead of the 2027 elections.
This initiative, spearheaded by the League of Northern Democrats—a group comprising former governors, senators, and other key figures—is centered on addressing the region’s political trajectory, economic growth, and security issues.
The initiative follows the 2023 general elections, which saw political power shift to the southern region after eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner.
During the election, major contenders included Bola Tinubu of the APC from the South West, Peter Obi of the Labour Party from the South East, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, representing the North.
The recent #EndBadGovernance protests in the North, marked by demonstrations and the display of Russian flags, demanding the overthrow of the democratically-elected president, have raised significant concerns among the region’s leaders.
Vice President, Kashim Shettima, addressing the situation, revealed that a high-level meeting of northern stakeholders, including governors, politicians, business executives, and traditional leaders, will soon be convened.
The meeting aims to address the violence witnessed during the protests and explore solutions to the region’s challenges, which Shettima attributed to leadership failures.
The summit will officially be announced at a forthcoming event in Kaduna.
Speaking on the plan for a northern summit on Tuesday, the Protem Chairman of the LND and former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said, “The LND resolved to organise a Northern Nigerian Political Summit, to be held in Kaduna.
“This summit will serve as a platform for discussing the region’s political future, economic development, and security challenges. It will bring together key leaders, thinkers, and influencers to chart a new course for the North.”
In an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, Shekarau expressed the group’s concern about the progress of the region.
He said the group intended to evaluate the challenges confronting the North, particularly security issues, and create a document detailing possible solutions to tackle the problems.
Shekarau said, “We came together to analyse and review the problem bedevilling the northern part of Nigeria. We said we need to embark on general societal reorientation, to enlighten the people on what are their basic challenges and their basic needs.
“It is apolitical though. It is not about any person or any political party, and it is necessarily not about 2027. It is an all-time issue. We want to produce a document, which is not about a year, two-year, or 10-year issue.
“The whole idea is to produce a document that we can confront anybody seeking our votes that these are the aspirations of our people and we want you to assure us that this will be part of your guiding principles.”
In a communiqué jointly signed by the convener, Umar Ardo, and the interim secretary, Emmanuel Jime, the LND announced its resolution to unify the North and reestablish it as a dominant force in national politics.
To achieve this, the group planned to invite prominent northern stakeholders, including former heads of state, current and former vice presidents, and former Senate presidents to rally support for the initiative.
According to the communique, the LND would engage with past Speakers of the House of Representatives, former security chiefs, and other influential figures to gather widespread backing for their efforts.
The statement reads, “The LND resolved to prioritise the political unity of Northern Nigeria. Recognising the diverse backgrounds and experiences within our ranks, we are committed to fostering a strong sense of community and solidarity.
“This unity will serve as the foundation for our efforts to reposition the North as a leading force in Nigeria’s political landscape.”