The Northern Elders Forum has said voting Bola Tinubu as president in 2023 is a mistake which will not be repeated.
“The North made a mistake in voting Bola Tinubu to the presidency in 2023,” Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, NEF spokesperson, told The Guardian on Tuesday, “and it is unlikely that they will repeat the same error in the future. The mistake of supporting Tinubu in 2023 has taught them the importance of unity and consensus in selecting a candidate for the highest office in the land,” he added.
Mr Suleiman further said northerners “have learnt from their past misstep and will strive to select a candidate who can unite the country and govern in the best interests of Nigerians.
He added that going forward, the North would be more cautious in selecting a candidate for the presidency. He added, “They will prioritise someone who is seen as more inclusive, less controversial, and more aligned with the interests of all regions of the country.”
In the 2023 presidential election, Mr Tinubu polled over 8.7 million votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Mr Tinubu garnered over 5.4 million votes in the North-West, North-East and North-Central geopolitical zones to win the presidency.