The Arewa Defence League (ADL) has raised alarm over what it described as the systemic and escalating marginalisation of Northern Nigeria under successive federal governments.

Rising from a roundtable discussion held at popular Arewa House, Kaduna, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the group unveiled a sweeping political action plan ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, which brought together ADL State Coordinators, the FCT Representative, National Directors, and key stakeholders across the North, deliberated on the theme, “Addressing Current Northern Marginalisation in Nigeria: Towards a Unified Strategy for 2027.”

In a communiqué signed by ADL President, Murtala Abubaker, and Secretary of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, Danladi Aliyu, participants expressed deep frustration over what they termed a deliberate sidelining of the North in governance, security management, and federal development projects.

To them, Northern Nigeria has been relegated to a peripheral status in national affairs due to skewed appointments, inequitable budget allocations, and selective infrastructural development.

They also highlighted worsening poverty and insecurity in the region, arguing that the neglect of agriculture and solid minerals has fueled unemployment and violence in the region.

The group further accused the federal government of abandoning Northern communities to escalating banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes, while systematically weakening Northern influence in national decision-making.

As a part of its resolutions, they resolved to draft a Charter of Northern Grievances documenting instances of exclusion in political appointments, budgetary disbursement, and infrastructural siting.

They also agreed to host an immediate strategy seminar within 30 days, and to convene a Northern Stakeholders’ Conference within six months to ratify a unified political action plan.

The ADL further committed to launching grassroots voter education and civic mobilisation across the 19 Northern states and the FCT, while pursuing inter-regional coalitions in pursuit of what it described as a truly united federation based on equity, justice, and fairness.

According to the communiqué, the resolutions mark the beginning of a historic process of reclaiming the region’s rightful place in Nigeria’s political landscape.

“The North will no longer be silent or sidelined. We are ready to assert our rights through unity, strategy, and democratic action,” they vowed.

The communiqué read in part: “We will formally compile a comprehensive “Charter of Northern Grievances,” detailing specific instances of marginalisation in political appointments, budget allocations, infrastructural development, and security management.

“We will organise an immediate strategy seminar within the next 30 day to deep-dive into critical national issues, to articulate a clear, coherent, and unified Northern position.

“We will design a framework for a larger, all-encompassing Northern stakeholders’ conference within the next six months.

“We will immediately commence the development and implementation of a robust strategy for non-partisan voter education, civic engagement, and grassroots mobilisation.

“The objective is to empower the Northern electorate to make informed choices that will protect and advance the region’s interests in the 2027 electoral cycle and beyond.” (Daily Sun, excluding headline)