ACF Crisis: We Won’t Bow To External Manipulation, NEC Tells BoT

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said the forum will not submit to external manipulation as its leadership crisis enters its seventh day.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the forum’s suspended Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, had announced that the tenures of four officials, including that of the Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, had expired on March 10, 2026, and urged them to step down.

However, the ACF National Executive Committee, through its spokesperson, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, rejected the BoT’s decision, describing the leadership change as illegal.

Ahead of the ACF NEC meeting last Wednesday, the police sealed off the forum’s national secretariat located on Sokoto Road, Kaduna, claiming the move was to prevent a breakdown of law and order between the two factions within the organisation.

On Wednesday, the NEC said it held a meeting at an undisclosed location and suspended the BoT chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, over alleged financial misconduct and constitutional breaches. However, the BoT members rejected the suspension.

The BoT members had on Sunday accused the embattled Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, of causing the crisis and urged him to stop parading himself as Secretary-General, insisting that his tenure had expired.

On Monday, apparently responding to the BoT, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, released a statement detailing the outcome of the NEC meeting held on March 6, 2026.

The NEC warned that any members contracted to partake in any committee or undertake any assignment by the BoT or its chairman would be acting illegally, and such actions would remain “null, void and of no effect” and would not be recognised.

According to the statement, “NEC noted the unprecedented siege and sealing of ACF’s head office by the police and unanimously condemned, in the strongest terms, the illegal and illogical action as a direct and egregious assault on the constitutional rights of groups and individuals in Northern Nigeria and elsewhere in the country.”

It added, “NEC demanded the immediate and unconditional reversal of the siege, the withdrawal of the NPF agents, and the identification of, and necessary disciplinary action against, those responsible for the illegal action. NEC commended the resilience of its members and their refusal to be provoked into illegal actions in the face of unwarranted provocation and intimidation by the NPF agents.”

The statement further noted, “NEC Chairman commended NEC members for their commitment and refusal to be taken for granted or submit to external manipulation. He appealed for more of such, as this will be critical in ensuring the solidification of the collective voice of Northern people as a group that must be reckoned with in all Nigerian affairs.”

“NEC approved the reconstitution of a new Leadership Selection Committee and directed the Chairman to give effect to same.”

The forum warned that, “NEC warned any individuals contracted to partake in any committee or otherwise undertake any assignment by the BoT or its Chairman, as such will remain futile, illegal, null, void, of no effect and will not be recognised.”

“NEC passed a vote of confidence on the NWC, calling on such persons to remain steadfast and committed to ensuring fidelity to the provisions of the Constitution of the ACF.”

It concluded, “NEC resolved that the ACF remains unbroken, undeterred and more united than ever, calling on all well-meaning Nigerians and Northerners to stand united and committed to the rule of law, and reject all impunity, abuse of privilege and tyranny.”