By Peter Omopo
The Arewa Defence League (ADL) has accused successive federal administrations of marginalising Northern Nigeria and vowed to mobilise the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a communiqué issued on Wednesday after a roundtable at the historic Arewa House, Kaduna, the ADL lamented political exclusion, economic neglect, infrastructural deficits, and worsening insecurity across the North.
The meeting, themed “Addressing Current Northern Marginalisation in Nigeria: Towards a Unified Strategy for 2027,” drew state coordinators, directors, the FCT representative, and other stakeholders.
ADL President, Murtala Abubakar, who presided over the session, said the North could no longer remain silent in the face of systemic exclusion.
“Our region has been reduced to a peripheral status in national affairs, and this cannot continue,” he told journalists.
The communiqué cited “alarming economic disparities” between the North and other regions, accusing the federal government of consistently favouring other zones in resource allocation and infrastructure while neglecting the North’s vast agricultural and mineral wealth.
It also condemned the insecurity crippling markets, farmlands, schools, and livelihoods, describing federal response as “weak and indecisive.”
The group further alleged that Northerners had been systematically excluded from critical decision-making platforms in Abuja, with the principles of federal character undermined to weaken the region’s influence.
To address these grievances, the ADL resolved to compile a “Charter of Northern Grievances” documenting instances of exclusion in appointments, budgets, infrastructure, and security. It also announced plans for grassroots voter education and civic mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our votes will no longer be taken for granted,” Abubakar declared, adding that the group would seek alliances with other regions in pursuit of justice and equity.
The communiqué was signed by Abubakar and Danladi Aliyu, Secretary of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, on behalf of the ADL.
