Arewa Group Alleges Marginalisation Of Northern Youths

The Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum has alleged the marginalisation of northern youths in political participation and decision-making within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the development could affect support for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation followed a meeting between the forum and the North-West APC Youth Stakeholders Forum led by its Coordinating Chairman, Hon. Bashir Ruma.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Amb. Salawudeen Shaibu Planner, the forum alleged that northern youths had been systematically excluded from strategic youth leadership positions and vowed to mobilise support group leaders across the North against what it described as sectional politics and unequal treatment.

The forum announced Hon. Haruna Sardauna and Mallam Idiriss Jibrin as coordinators for the North-East and North-Central, respectively, saying they would mobilise APC support groups and engage stakeholders in the two zones to advocate greater inclusion of northern youths within the party.

It also welcomed the decision of several APC support group leaders to join what it described as a campaign against alleged tribal discrimination, saying the movement seeks fairness, inclusion and equal political opportunities for youths across the country.

The forum further directed 1,378 registered APC support group leaders across the three northern geopolitical zones, the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to begin consultations on withdrawing support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid unless their concerns are addressed.

It alleged that Barrister Seyi Tinubu had influenced youth political structures and appointments in ways that excluded northern youths.

The group also claimed that appointments into youth-related political and government institutions had disproportionately favoured people from the South-West, creating what it described as feelings of exclusion among many northern youths.

According to the statement, the forum also questioned the recognition allegedly accorded to some Yoruba-affiliated youth movements, claiming that support groups led by northern politicians and youth leaders had not received equal consideration.

It further alleged that Seyi Tinubu influenced appointments into youth leadership positions, including the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the APC National Youth Leadership, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Affairs and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

The forum also alleged that only two youth movements the City Boy Movement and the Relax, Tinubu is Fixing Nigeria Movement—were being recommended for official support, adding that APC support groups led by northern youths were being required to work through the organisations.

Ruma urged northern youth leaders to remain united and peaceful while pursuing what he described as legitimate demands for equal representation, saying the objective was to strengthen democratic participation and ensure every region had a voice in national youth affairs.

The forum maintained that northern voters contributed significantly to the APC’s victory in the 2023 general elections and argued that such contribution should be reflected in political appointments and leadership opportunities for northern youths.

It warned that continued dissatisfaction among northern youths could affect party unity and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections and urged the APC leadership to address the concerns raised.

The organisation also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure appointments and political opportunities reflect Nigeria’s diversity, saying equal treatment of youths across all regions is essential to national unity and internal party cohesion.

At the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency, the APC national leadership nor Barrister Seyi Tinubu had publicly responded to the allegations.