The ranks of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) were divided yesterday over the endorsement of two presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as North’s consensus candidates.
NEF leadership argued over the extent of the forum’s involvement and its outcome.
The rows followed the announcement of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed as the chosen ones by a committee chaired by NEF leader, Prof. Ango Abdullahi.
The committee rated them above the Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and a former bank chief, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
It awarded 10 points each to Saraki and Mohammed, seven to Tambuwal, and five to Hayatu-Deen.
However, Tambuwal and Hayatu-Deen rejected the outcome, describing the Abdullahi committee as “faceless” and dismissing the outcome as “predetermined”.
NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy Mr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, distanced the forum from the process yesterday.
He said Prof Abdullahi, who was invited by the former military president to drive the process, did not act on NEF’s behalf.
