ACF BoT chairman suspended amidst deepening crisis

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended Bashir Dalhatu as the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), over alleged violations of the organisation’s constitution.

The decision was reached at an emergency NEC meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday, amid heightened tension following reported police restrictions on access to the ACF headquarters ahead of the gathering.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Tukor Muhammad-Baba, the National Publicity Secretary, said delegates from about 18 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were forced to relocate to an alternative venue within Kaduna due to the situation at the headquarters.

He said the NEC condemned the restriction, describing it as unlawful interference in the forum’s internal affairs and a violation of the right to association.

Muhammad-Baba dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within the ACF, attributing the situation instead to misinterpretation of constitutional provisions and alleged attempts by some individuals to usurp authority.

He added that deliberations focused on a report by an Ethics and Conduct Committee set up to investigate a petition on financial management and governance within the forum.

According to him, preliminary findings raised serious concerns, particularly regarding due process and financial administration, necessitating further investigation.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, the NEC passed a vote of no confidence in Dalhatu and approved his immediate suspension as BoT chairman pending the outcome of investigations.

The forum also condemned the reported police barricade of its headquarters, describing it as unacceptable interference with its operations and constitutional rights.