Arewa Consultative Forum on Wednesday said it did not have any presidential candidate from either North or South and that it would not endorse any for the 2023 election.
The forum said it was not a political party, noting that only political parties have the exclusive preserve to select their presidential candidates.
The pan-northern socio-political organisation body said it would only subject candidates to scrutiny after they have been chosen by their political parties.
ACF spoke in a communiqué signed by the ACF National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, after a meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday.
In the communiqué, which was made available to journalists by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Emmanuel Yawe, ACF also proposed a meeting with Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other socio-cultural groups ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The communique read, “As the country moves towards 2023. We of the ACF need to remind our members and all that we are not a political party.
“We do not have a candidate and will not endorse one in the 2023 election, North or South. When the political parties, who have the exclusive permission of the Constitution to sponsor candidates, choose a presidential candidate each, we shall engage the candidates and find out what programme they have for the North.”
Earlier at the opening of the meeting, Ogbeh said, “Our plan to have meetings with Afenifere, Ohanaeze and South South People Congress is still on course because there is the need to put a stop to abusive words against one region or the other.
“We should desist from endorsing any candidate for the 2023 presidency. If anybody ask you about endorsement, tell such a person that we are not a political party.”