Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nigerian youths to reject vote-buying, ethnic politics and every form of electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Saturday during the inauguration of state coordinators of RiseUpNaija, a political movement backing his presidential ambition, in Abuja, Atiku urged young Nigerians to harness their numerical strength to influence the country’s democratic future through responsible participation in the electoral process.
According to him, his presidential aspiration is driven by a commitment to provide accountable leadership, strengthen public institutions and create equal opportunities for all Nigerians.
Addressing the gathering, Atiku described himself as a lifelong democrat who remains optimistic about Nigeria’s future despite the nation’s challenges.
“I stand before you today not merely as a former vice president or an elder statesman, but as a lifelong democrat who has never stopped believing that Nigeria can become the great nation its people deserve,” he said.
The former vice president expressed concern over the increasing number of young Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad, attributing the trend to growing frustration over the nation’s economic and political situation.
He said many young people were not abandoning Nigeria because they lacked patriotism, but because they had lost confidence in the country’s ability to provide them with opportunities.
Atiku noted that Nigerian youths make up the country’s largest voting population and should leverage that advantage to determine the outcome of elections instead of allowing politicians to manipulate them through ethnic and religious divisions.
He accused members of the political class of deliberately exploiting tribal and religious sentiments to weaken the collective influence of young voters.
According to him, such divisions have allowed a relatively small political elite to continue determining the nation’s future while the majority remain politically fragmented.
He urged youths to unite around issues that affect their future rather than identity politics.
Reject vote-buying
The former vice president also warned Nigerians against exchanging their votes for money, food or other material gifts during elections.
He stressed that accepting temporary inducements from politicians would only prolong poor governance and deny citizens the opportunity to demand accountability from elected leaders.
“Your vote is far more valuable than any amount of money a politician can offer,” Atiku said.
“Do not exchange four years of your future for one afternoon of inducement. A bag of rice will disappear.”
Social media activism must translate into action
Atiku unveiled what he described as three strategic mandates for the youth movement, with a major focus on converting online political engagement into active participation in democratic processes.
While commending Nigerian youths for using social media platforms to demand accountability and shape national conversations, he warned that digital campaigns alone cannot guarantee electoral victory or safeguard democracy.
He reminded supporters that elections are won through active participation at polling units rather than online discussions.
“Hashtags do not count votes. Livestreams do not secure polling units. Tweets do not defend democracy. Only citizens do,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate encouraged young Nigerians to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), verify their voter information, study the Electoral Act, volunteer during elections, serve as polling agents and participate in election observation to ensure credible polls.
“Our challenge in 2027 is therefore clear. We must transform online influence into offline participation,” he said.
“Register to vote. Verify your registration. Understand the Electoral Act. Volunteer. Serve as polling agents. Observe the process. Protect the people’s mandate peacefully and lawfully.”
Youths can defeat money politics
Atiku acknowledged that established political structures often possess enormous financial resources but insisted that the collective participation of millions of Nigerian youths would outweigh the influence of money in elections.
He maintained that if young voters participate peacefully, vote responsibly and defend the integrity of the electoral process, no amount of financial inducement would be able to override the will of the people.
“If millions of young Nigerians participate peacefully, vote responsibly and defend the integrity of the process, no amount of money can overcome the collective will of the people,” he said.
“Democracy belongs to those who show up.”
Vote for competence, not ethnicity
The former vice president also urged Nigerians to reject politicians who seek to divide the country along ethnic and religious lines for political gain.
According to him, Nigeria’s diversity should be viewed as a strength rather than a source of conflict, adding that the nation’s common challenges require collective solutions.
“Perhaps the greatest tragedy of Nigerian politics is that those who benefit from our divisions have convinced us that our neighbour is our enemy,” he said.
“Our shared challenges must produce a shared purpose.”
Atiku concluded by urging Nigerians to evaluate candidates based on competence, integrity and ideas instead of ethnicity, religion or financial inducements.
He also appealed to citizens to reject violence, intimidation and vote-buying while promoting peaceful participation in the democratic process.
“In 2027, let us vote for competence. Let us vote for character, ideas and for the future,” he said.
“Encourage peaceful participation. Reject violence, intimidation, vote-buying and every attempt to make democracy a marketplace where votes are purchased instead of earned. Our democracy deserves better.”
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