The forum in a statement jointly signed by chairmen of 10 NBA branches from the north, said: “We wish to state categorically that the forum has never backed Gadzama’s candidature. Neither at the meeting of 30th January, 2016 nor any other meeting of the forum resolved to back him.” The forum recalled that at its inappropriate rescheduled meeting held in Bauchi State in October last year, it has constituted a committee to screen members that wish to contest for national offices in the forthcoming NBA poll. It added that the report of the committee was only read verbally at the January 30th meeting in Kaduna and tabled for discussion and subsequent approval by the forum. “The report received severe criticism and disapproval from majority of members present at the meeting and this led to calls for caution in treating the report at the meeting. Further discussion on the report was also suspended and the report was altogether set aside,” said the statement. In view of the development, a 7-man committee of elders was constituted with the two aspirants A. B. Mahmoud (SAN) and J. K. Gadzama (SAN) appointing three members each, while the forum appoints chairman of the committee. The forum further stated that the elders committee was mandated to reconcile between the two aspirants and to reports back to the forum at the next meeting for deliberation. “The report of the screening committee was not accepted and therefore no person vying for office in the forthcoming election was adopted by the forum,” concluded the statement.]]>