The Northern Elders Forum has expressed its deepest regrets over its decision to vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 elections.

The forum said the North has learned its lesson, adding that there has been a heightened security challenge under the Tinubu-led administration.

The spokesperson of the forum, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, disclosed this in a recent interview with The Guardian. According to him, the recent abduction of school children in Kuriga, Kaduna depicts the government’s failure to protect its citizens, despite being in office for only a few months.

On recent gestures of former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, towards northern communities, Suleiman acknowledged them but reiterated that the region had learned from their past mistake in voting for Tinubu, adding that such errors would not likely be repeated in the future.

“The North made a mistake in voting Bola Tinubu to the presidency in 2023, and it is unlikely that they will repeat the same error in the future.”

They have learned from their past misstep and will strive to select a candidate who can unite the country and govern in the best interests of all Nigerians.

Moving forward, the North will be more cautious in selecting a candidate for the presidency. They will prioritize someone who is seen as more inclusive, less controversial, and more aligned with the interests of all regions of the country.

The mistake of supporting Tinubu in 2023 has taught them the importance of unity and consensus in selecting a candidate for the highest office in the land,” he was quoted as saying.

Recall Tinubu in the last election, polled a total of 8,794,726 votes nationwide, with the northern region contributing approximately 5.4 million of those votes.