A northern group known as Arewa Coalition for Rotational Presidency (ACRP), has advised politicians from the region, in their own interest, to shelve the idea of seeking the presidency in 2023 general election.

The group vowed that it would “practically rise” and mobilise against all presidential candidates from the North that dare contest under any political party.

In a statement jointly signed by ACRP Chairman, Abdullahi Biu and Secretary Hamza Malumfashi, the coalition said: “In the interest of peace, equity and justice, more so, that the North has been in power for eight years, the idea of the North even contesting the highly exalted position of President should be immediately jettisoned.

“All those that picked nomination forms, especially from the PDP, should step down if they are true democrats. As a group of democrats from the 19 northern states, we strongly believe in the principle of equity and fairness as a panacea for peace, progress and, thus, our resolve supports rotation of power to our brothers in the South.

“It is against this background that we are advising all political parties, especially the two major parties, APC and PDP, to field only southern candidates.”

This is coming against the background of the move by the 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to contest the Presidency under the same party in 2023. Atiku had already purchased the party’s nomination form at N40 Million.

Atiku, in a statement by his media office, said he will officially declare his intent on Wednesday, March 23 at International Conference Centre, Abuja, claiming that his resolve to contest followed several months of consultations with stakeholders across the country and in the diaspora, as well as all organs of the PDP.