The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has advised Nigerians, especially northerners to vote for credible leaders at all levels, irrespective of their political parties ahead of the 2023 elections.
The chairman Board of Trustees of the group, Nastura Shariff, gave the advice at a press conference in Kano on Monday.
Mr Shariff said the CNG has noted that the politics of the country has taken a new dimension of deceiving electorate that they would waste their votes if they vote for any party other than the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to him, there are credible candidates to be elected in other political parties better than those in APC and PDP, adding that Nigerians should not be hoodwinked into voting for only two major political parties in the 2023 elections and beyond.
He said, “Our advice to Nigerians, especially northerners, is that ahead of the 2023 elections, they should think critically to elect leaders who they believe will stand by them in the time of hardship, leaders that will protect their lives and property.
“Nigerians should consider track record of the candidates, irrespective of their political parties, to see if they previously led you well.
“We have noticed some section of the country deceiving people not to vote for credible candidates but political parties. This is foolhardy and baseless.
“Our call to Nigerians, especially northerners is to voted for credible candidates at any party, not necessarily APC or PDP. That is the aim of this press conference,” he said.
The group also expressed fear over possible voter apathy in the northern Nigeria due to reported low participation in the ongoing voter registration.
The CNG therefore called on the northerners to go out en masse to get their Personal Voter’s Card, PVC to elect credible leaders at all parties.
“We caution the North against voter apathy in the coming elections and to strongly call on northerners to register massively for Permanent Voter Cards as the only sure way of ensuring leadership that will address our limitations,” he said.
