There were strong indications last night that the North will determine who to adopt among its three presidential candidates after the National Assembly poll.

The candidates are Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (the Congress for Progressive Change); Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (the Action Congress of Nigeria); and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (All Nigeria Peoples Party).

Also, Northern stakeholders on Sunday night held informal discussions with Buhari and Ribadu.

Investigation by The Nation showed that Northern stakeholders, a coalition of professionals and opinion moulders in the region, resumed their consultations on Sunday in Abuja but only Ribadu could meet up with the scheduled time.

While Buhari later came in the night to confer with the convener of the stakeholders (a former President of the Court of Appeal), Shekarau was still held up on a campaign tour at about 1am on Monday when the meeting retired into an informal session.

Although the stakeholders will still meet with the three candidates on or before the end of the week, the leaders agreed on Sunday night that the score sheet of the parties of the three candidates during the National Assembly poll will assist the North to decide on who among them to back.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are aware that there is disenchantment with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North but we also want to take a popular and well-informed decision on who to back for the presidency.

“In taking our decision, we will present the facts and figures to our people and the candidates so that they will not accuse us of bias. Any of the three candidates will know the limitations of his party and there will be basis for an alliance.”