The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has insisted that the Independent National Electoral (INEC) should conduct all of Nigeria’s five elections on the same day.

The National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna that ACF is of the considered opinion that such an arrangement would cut the cost of conducting elections and reduce problems of logistics.

Sani said it would also help to reduce the bandwagon effect associated with staggered elections.

“If African countries can do it, Nigeria can also do so,” the statement said.

It commended the National Assembly for its decision to thoroughly investigate the claims and counter claims which have trailed the recent killing of alleged members of Boko Haram in the Legislative Quarters in Abuja.

“It has become very necessary and timely, considering the overriding need to know the truth which can inform retribution or otherwise and inspire confidence and trust on the authority, on the nation’s intelligence community and on the security agents for public good,” ACF said.

It also noted with great concern the festering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which, it said, has inflicted untold hardship on the students and the parents and on the country’s education sector. The group called on the feuding parties to make haste and bring about the necessary sacrifices needed to end the strike and allow students resume lectures.

ACF also decried for the marginalisation of the northern part of Nigeria in air travels. It said that there is evidence that fewer northerners are getting jobs and deployment in parastatals of the Ministry of Aviation and in the management of airports across the country.

ACF lamented that as things stand, there are no international flights in the north except in Abuja. It urged relevant authorities and the Ministry of Aviation to work hard to reverse the trend.

•Photo shows ACF Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed.

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