The groups made this known on Sunday at its ongoing meeting at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
Present at the meeting were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Malam Ango Abdullahi, Chief Edwin Clark and Dr. Bitrus Pogu.
They said Abubakar possessed the intelligence and other attributes to run the country, urging Nigerians to vote for him.
The Convener of NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said: “The reality is that we have to fish for a president among the two major parties, the ruling and the main opposition.
“It is clear that the country requires a new leadership and this is why the Northern elders Forum which I lead is in agreement that a new leader should emerge and that leader is Atiku Abubakar.”
On attacks by the All Progressives Congress-led government following criticism of the administration, Abdullahi said: “It is unfair to accuse us of vested interested on issues that ought to be of concern to every Nigerian irrespective of tribe and religion.
“Nothing is farther from the truth that some of us are being frustrated because we have been denied of contracts or appointments.
“We are yet to receive a reply to a letter challenging the government to name any of our colleagues who have asked for contracts.
“Today, our focus is on free, fair and credible elections without which the image of the country will never rise above where we are today.
“Where we are today, for a country with our size in Africa, so endowed with the kind of resources we have, where we are today is because of crisis of leadership.
“This election is about serious changes in the kind of leadership we deserve.”
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