The forum’s convener, Paul Unongo, was quoted in an interview that President Buhari had been adopted as the candidate of the north.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the forum’s director of logistic at its national secretariat, Captain Bashir Sodangi, said all the views expressed by Unongo in the said interview represented his personal opinion and not that of NEF.

The statement pointed out that the forum which had not met since September 2017 had never discussed the politics of 2019 not to talk of adopting a candidate.

“It follows therefore that NEF has at no time recently met, discussed or adopted a common candidate for the 2019 presidency.

“If at any time the NEF should meet on 2019, our position supported by detailed reasons, shall be duly communicated through our official communication channel as usual,” the statement read in part.

The NEF, while thanking Nigerians for their concern and cooperation, also urged them to be patient. (Daily Trust)