ACF urges Nigerians to vote based on conscience, rejects political violence

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on Nigerians to vote wisely in the 2027 general elections, urging them to make decisions based on personal evaluation of candidates and issues, rather than following the directives of political parties. Chairman Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, made this appeal in his Independence Day message to mark Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary.

Osuman encouraged every eligible Nigerian to obtain and keep their Permanent Voter's Card (PVC) and take an active part in the electoral process. However, he cautioned against letting political parties determine who citizens choose to vote for, emphasizing that voting should be a personal choice and a constitutional tool for selecting individuals who should be trusted with public responsibilities.

"The vote of every citizen is a personal expression of choice and a constitutional instrument for determining who should be entrusted with public responsibility," he stated.

Osuman also warned politicians and their supporters, especially the youth, against engaging in violence prior to, during, and after elections. He urged citizens to steer clear of areas or events prone to conflict, stressing that no political competition should ever justify the loss of human life. "No political contest is worth the loss of a human life," he reiterated, advocating for the rejection of violence, inflammatory language, provocation, and the destruction of lives and property.

He expressed concern over the challenges facing Nigerians, such as insecurity, displacement, economic hardships, poverty, and natural disasters, which have disrupted economic activities, closed schools, separated families, and destroyed livelihoods. Osuman attributed some of these issues to either the actions of individuals in leadership or their exacerbation, emphasizing that public authority ought to be seen as a sacred duty exercised for the common good.

He urged Nigerians to reflect, particularly those in the northern region, on whether divisions based on ethnicity, religion, politics, or personal interests are hindering collective development. Osuman highlighted that a society's strength lies not only in its population and resources but also in unity, shared values, justice, and dedication to the common good.

"The North must therefore continually remind itself that our diversity should be a source of strength and not a justification for division," he urged.

Lastly, the ACF chairman called upon parents, elders, and teachers to offer moral and ethical guidance to young Nigerians, emphasizing values like honesty, discipline, hard work, tolerance, patriotism, peaceful coexistence, and respect for the rule of law.