North to Hold Regional Leaders Summit Ahead of 2027 Elections
Prominent political and traditional figures from Northern Nigeria have begun moves to convene a regional summit aimed at restoring unity and shaping a collective political direction before the 2027 general elections.
The initiative, led by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the National Political Consultative Group, seeks to develop a coordinated voting strategy and a regional development framework that echoes the legacy of the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who championed northern inclusiveness and self-reliance in the First Republic.
Speaking during an expanded consultative meeting in Abuja on Saturday, the NEF Director General, Prof. Doknan Sheni, said the region must urgently overcome its internal divisions if it intends to play a decisive role in the next electoral cycle.
“If the North is to prepare and unite for the 2027 election, there must be massive enlightenment among the electorate so that citizens vote based on ideology, principles, and manifestos, not sentiments,” Sheni stated.
He identified insecurity, unemployment, and ethno-religious divisions as the main barriers to unity, stressing that northern leaders must act decisively to address them.
Sheni disclosed that a Northern Unity and Development Summit would be convened in the first quarter of 2026 to harmonise political, economic, and security strategies across the 19 northern states.
“For the North to unite, there should be a summit of northern leaders to harmonise ideas and plan for the elections. Religion and ethnicity, which often determine voting behaviour, must be tackled squarely at that summit,” he added.
The NEF chief warned that external political actors were exploiting internal disunity within the North for personal gain and urged stakeholders to “close ranks and treat one another with respect and justice.”
He also called for greater synergy between the Northern Governors’ Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum, and traditional institutions, arguing that collaboration is vital for regional stability and economic recovery.
“A united North is crucial not just for political negotiation but for addressing the worsening security and economic challenges that have weakened our region,” he said.
Analysts view the planned summit as an attempt to revive the North’s historical political coherence, which has been eroded by rival interests and shifting alliances since 2015.
In the 2023 presidential election, the North-West alone accounted for a large share of the votes that secured victory for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 8.79 million votes against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who garnered 6.98 million and 6.1 million votes respectively.
The opposition parties rejected the results, alleging irregularities and vote suppression. However, the outcome reaffirmed the North’s enduring influence in Nigeria’s electoral politics, a factor regional leaders now seek to consolidate ahead of 2027.
