The Arewa Consultative Forum's Board of Trustees has overturned the suspension of its chairman, Bashir Dalhatu, declaring the action illegal and reckless.
The board made the decision in what sources say was a closed-door meeting where members reviewed the circumstances that led to Dalhatu's suspension. According to those familiar with the proceedings, the trustees concluded that whoever ordered the suspension lacked the authority to do so and that proper procedures were not followed.
Dalhatu's suspension had triggered a storm within the northern socio-political organisation, with questions raised about the legitimacy of the move and who authorised it. The suspension came without clear public explanation, leaving members and observers puzzled about what prompted it and whether the process was lawful.
The board's decision to void the suspension amounts to a significant rebuke of whoever initiated the action. By calling it illegal, the trustees are signalling that they do not recognise any authority in the forum to suspend the chairman outside of their own deliberations and vote. The use of the word reckless suggests the board views the suspension as hasty and poorly considered.
Dalhatu returns to his position with his authority as chairman restored, though the episode will likely leave scars within the organisation. The ACF, which represents interests across northern Nigeria, now faces questions about its internal governance and who wields real power within its structures.
It remains unclear who ordered Dalhatu's suspension or what they claimed justified the action. The forum has not issued a detailed public statement explaining the sequence of events or what led to the board's reversal. Dalhatu himself has not made public statements since his reinstatement.
