The six groups in the North holding public interaction with presidential candidates yesterday said they have no plan to endorse anybody ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the groups, under the aegis of Arewa Joint Committee, have interacted with five presidential candidates on their agenda for the North and Nigeria as a whole.

The presidential candidates are Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Abiola of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
and Adewole Adebayo of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Chairman, Steering Committee of the group, Murtala Aliyu, said at a press conference in Kaduna that their aim was to give voters in the North the opportunity to appraise each candidate based on their agenda.

“We want to make sure that whoever comes will stabilise the country and address the peculiar interests of the North.

“We are not validating anybody, but we are going to tell the world what every one of them said about what.
“Our duty is to make the public appreciate what each of the candidates has in stock for the North and the country at large,” he said.

According to him, it is not the duty of the group to accept or validate any candidate.

“It is for the public, the presentation was made publicly so that Nigerians may measure and
evaluate the candidates.

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“Our goal is to afford citizens an opportunity to match candidates against their commitments to matters that are central to the interests of the North,” Aliyu said.

He said five of the six candidates earmarked to attend the session participated, and appreciated them for their positive response.

According to him, the candidates’ acceptance to submit themselves to public scrutiny is an indication of their respect to public opinion and the Nigerian voters.
“These interactions, the first of their type in the history of our country, have been a tremendous success.

“First, they demonstrated the strong bonds of unity of the people of the North, represented
by the collaborating groups.

“Second, they showed a commendable level of respect for the democratic process by the candidates who submitted to the process.”

He said the interactive sessions afforded Nigerians a rare opportunity to see and hear the candidates speak about their plans and vision.

“Until the elections in February 2023, the North will be challenged to raise its vigilance over all electoral activities.