Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu's suspension stands invalid. That's what the Arewa Consultative Forum's Board of Trustees declared on Sunday.
The board rejected the NEC's action as unconstitutional and illegal. They described it as a deliberate bid to destabilize the northern organization.
According to the BoT, the National Executive Committee has no power to suspend board members. Only the trustees hold such authority, they insisted.
A "tiny, disgruntled minority" convened an illegitimate meeting on May 6, 2026, the board alleged. That's when they claimed the Wazirin Dutse was wrongfully suspended.
Former governors signed the statement condemning the action. Abdullahi Adamu, Ibrahim Shekarau, Sule Lamido, Saminu Turaki and Umar Al-Makura all put their names to it.
Mohammed D. Abubakar, the ex-police chief, also backed the board's position.
So did Lai Mohammed, a former information minister, and retired General Tukur Buratai.
The BoT called the suspension "gross insubordination." It violated both the ACF constitution and established traditions, they said.
No leadership crisis exists within the forum. Personal interests are driving this controversy, the board maintained.
The trustees pointed fingers at Murtala Aliyu, a former secretary-general. His tenure expired on March 10, 2026, yet he's accused of orchestrating the entire crisis.
Any action Aliyu took after that date is "null, void and of no effect." He's currently under investigation for his conduct in office.
Mike Mamman Osuman, chairman of the NEC, also faced criticism. The board accused him of allowing "unfounded and malicious allegations" against Dalhatu to proceed.
An investigation has been ordered into what happened. The trustees view it as a calculated attempt to damage the forum's reputation.
Northern Nigerians should rest assured, the BoT stressed. ACF remains united and dedicated to regional interests.
Concerns about donations to the ACF Endowment Fund were also addressed. All funds are secure and beyond the secretariat's or NEC's reach, they assured.
Full confidence in Dalhatu remains unchanged. The trustees vowed to take firm action to restore discipline within the organization.
The NEC had suspended Dalhatu weeks earlier on different grounds. They alleged financial and administrative misconduct against him.
Tukur Muhammad Baba, the ACF's national publicity secretary, announced the decision. An emergency NEC meeting in Kaduna had approved the suspension.
Delegates from 18 northern states attended, along with representatives from Abuja. They voted to suspend Dalhatu pending investigation of alleged financial wrongdoing.
The Ethics, Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Committee had invited him to respond. Baba noted that Dalhatu failed to honor the invitation.
