The Arewa Consultation Forum (ACF) and Yoruba Welfare Group (YWG) have called on the All Progressive Congress (APC), to allow its presidential aspirants go into free and fair contest if they fail to arrive at a consensus.

The groups advised all cacuses, vested interests and contending forces in the APC to ensure justice and fairness in distribution of leadership positions, saying only that would ensure peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting signed by Arewa Consultation Forum (ACF) Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu and YWG’s National president, Abdulraheem Adegoke Alawuje, the groups said that, agreements reached by various political groups should be fulfilled to safeguard the country against perpetual mistrust and anarchy.

The communique reads, “Going by the agitations in many quarters and the phenomenon of mutual distrust, between the North and the South, being thrown into the polity over the Management of the ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest the Presidential ticket under APC towards 2023 election, the two major groups in the Nigeria Project- Yoruba Welfare Group and the Arewa Consultation Forum- view with great concern the mistrust, distrust and the discordant tune reminiscent of the issue that led to the crisis of the First Republic.

“The parley held on Friday 3rd June, 2022 over the state of the Nation and more importantly on the aspiration of Asiwaju Tinubu concluded as follow.

“That all caucuses, vested interests and contending forces must realise that maintaining the peaceful coexistence of various ethnic groups in Nigeria can only be sustained under just and fair distribution of opportunities and leadership positions.”

“That agreement reached by various political groups MUST be fulfilled to safeguard the country from perpetual mistrust and anarchy that such may bring to the entire country.” 

“That in the event that consensus could not be reached among the aspirants to the post of president in the ruling party, all aspirants should be given the opportunity to contest at the primary to avoid imposition of candidate with a view to ensuring free and fair election devoid of rancour, and favouritism.”