ACF BoT: NEC Lacks Authority To Suspend Dalhatu

The apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has hinted that in the coming days it will address the leadership crisis that led to the police’s blockade of the Forum’s national secretariat last Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the board of trustees and authorised by a long list of members, ACF BoT rejected the suspension of its Chairman, Alhaji Bashir M. Dalhatu, by the Forum’s National Executive Committee (NEC) led by its Chairman, Mike Mamman Osuman, SAN.

According to the statement? “The Board of Trustees reaffirms its confidence and support for its Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu. In the coming days, we will take strong measures that will address this needless crisis and re-establish discipline, peace and order in this very important organisation.”

“The Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) unequivocally condemns, in the strongest terms possible, the reckless, illegal and ill-advised actions of a tiny, disgruntled minority within the Forum who, in flagrant violation of the ACF Constitution, rules, regulations, norms and established traditions, convened an illegitimate meeting on 6 May 2026 and issued a press release containing unfounded and malicious allegations against the respected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Executive Council of ACF lacks the authority whatsoever to make any legal pronouncement on the leadership of the Board of Trustees. It has no powers under our Constitution to appoint, suspend or remove any member of the Board of Trustees, let alone its Chairman. The actions of this small group represent a dangerous act of indiscipline, gross insubordination and a blatant attempt to undermine the very foundation of the Forum.”

The statement added, “It is particularly regrettable and unfortunate that the Chairman of the National Executive Committee, Mike Mamman Osman, SAN, permitted the illegal actions of the erstwhile Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu, whose tenure expired on 10 March 2026. All actions taken by the said former Secretary General after that date are null, void and of no effect. He has since been placed under investigation for his conduct while in office”

The statement added, “The Board of Trustees has directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this treachery, which, no doubt, was calculated to discredit the Forum, malign its hard-earned reputation and relegate it to a scrap heap.

“We wish to state categorically that there is no leadership crisis or tussle in the Arewa Consultative Forum. What we are witnessing is nothing but the desperate and self-serving machinations of a disgruntled former officer who has refused to vacate his seat after the expiration of his tenure and has resorted to recruiting a few like-minded individuals to do his bidding,” ACF BoT stated.

Our correspondent reports that police operatives are still barricading the ACF secretariat on Sokoto Road as the Forum’s leadership crisis entered its seventh day.