Arewa Think Tank Defends Tinubu Against NCEF Pressure

The Arewa Think Tank has publicly criticized the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) for urging President Bola Tinubu to forgo his plans for re-election in 2027. In a statement issued in Kaduna by its convener, Muhammad Alhàji Yakubu, the group asserted that no religious organization possesses the authority to determine electoral choices for Nigerians.

They characterized the NCEF's comments as an attempt to politicize religion and intimidate the President, emphasizing that only the Nigerian electorate has the constitutional right to decide who holds the nation's highest office. The Arewa Think Tank stated that no pressure group could intimidate President Tinubu from contesting the upcoming election.

They urged religious leaders to refrain from actions that could heighten political and religious tensions and suggested that those wishing to engage in partisan politics should do so openly. The convenor also noted that assessing the Tinubu administration requires understanding the significant structural challenges inherited over decades, while acknowledging the administration's efforts in economic reforms.