A major northern group has announced that the nineteen states of Nigeria’s North will unite to support one presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The decision will be made at a large regional convention planned for this April.
The group, called the Rebuild Arewa Initiative for Development (RAID), stated this during a press briefing in Abuja. They said deep problems with insecurity, poverty, and poor governance require a united northern response.
The convention aims to be a non-partisan meeting of traditional, religious, and political leaders from the North. They will develop a common plan to address the region’s severe security crisis and economic challenges.
The group’s spokesman linked the continuing violence to weak government and failed policies. He specifically criticized the poor state of education, which leaves many children vulnerable to recruitment by criminal gangs.
The meeting will also draw inspiration from the leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello, a historic northern premier. His focus on education, institutions, and unity is seen as a model for solving current issues.
This move signals a major political effort to consolidate northern influence ahead of the next national election. The chosen candidate will be backed by a region demanding urgent solutions to its most pressing crises.
