LND Makes 10 Big Resolutions at Meeting in Abuja

Abuja, May 22, 2025 – In a landmark gathering held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, the League of Northern Democrats (LND), under the leadership of Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, convened a high-level strategic meeting attended by 147 members. The meeting culminated in bold resolutions aimed at reshaping Northern Nigeria’s political relevance and addressing the region’s worsening socio-economic challenges.

In his opening remarks, Sen. Shekarau emphasized the urgency of forging a unified front to reposition the North within Nigeria’s evolving political architecture. The delegates engaged in robust deliberations over the direction of the movement, resulting in several resolutions with far-reaching implications.

Among the key outcomes was the approval of the LND constitution and leadership structure, alongside a directive for the legal adviser to conclude the registration of the League as a formal association. The LND also expressed full support for the National Opposition Coalition Group led by former Senate President David Mark, signaling readiness to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s transitional politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a significant move, the League resolved to pursue the registration of a new political party as a platform for progressive-minded members of larger political blocs disillusioned with existing party structures. However, it also kept open the option of fusing into an existing party if such alignment proves more strategic.

Notably, the League announced plans to convene a broader Northern stakeholders’ meeting, referencing a prior agreement during the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) summit in Kaduna. This, according to the League, would help consolidate Northern interests in national discourse.

The League also unveiled plans for mass mobilization of Northern citizens to demand constitutional adherence from the National Assembly (NASS), particularly the enforcement of legal provisions concerning lawmakers who defected to other parties without losing their seats—especially in Delta and Kebbi States.

Furthermore, the LND took a strong stance against what it termed the “inaction” of the 19 Northern governors in addressing poverty, insecurity, and economic decline in the region. The League vowed to engage them directly and hold them accountable to the people.

Below is the full communique issued at the conclusion of the meeting:

COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF THE LEAGUE OF NORTHERN DEMOCRATS HELD AT NICON LUXURY HOTEL ABUJA THURSDAY, 22 MAY, 2025

The League of Northern Democrats held a meeting chaired by its chairman, Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, with 147 members attending. After intensive discussions, the following resolutions were adopted:

1. We approved our constitution and minutes of previous meetings and directed the legal adviser to conclude the process of the registration of LND as an association;
2. We approved the leadership of the LND as attached;
3. We resolved to support the National Opposition Coalition Group chaired by Sen. President David Mark in driving the transitional politics towards the 2027 general elections;
4. We resolved to contribute in the dialogue on either registering a new political party or fuse into an existing one;
5. We resolved that our first option is to register a new party in order to accommodate many independent members of the larger established political parties who currently feel reluctant to move into a smaller party but who are willing to move out to form a new party;
6. In the alternative, to fuse into an existing party as a primary and necessary alternative;
7. We resolve to coordinate a meeting of a larger various northern groups as agreed a few weeks ago in the ACF meeting in Kaduna to solidify northern positions;
8. We resolve to mobilize Northern Nigerians to pressure the government, particularly the NASS leadership, to uphold the provisions of the Constitution which they swore to do;
9. To this end, we resolve to mobilize Nigerians to a civil resistance against the leaderships of NASS to force them to declare the seats of all the legislators in Delta and Kebbi states who cross carpeted to other political parties as stipulated by Sections of the constitution; and
10. We resolved to engage the 19 Northern governors on their seeming inertia to the terrible situation in the North – endemic poverty, state of destitution of our people, insecurity, unemployment, and the appalling economic crisis in the region, which we concluded is as a result of poor governance at the state and local government levels.

Signed:
Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau (Chairman)
Dr. Umar Ardo (Convener)