Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerian youths not to sell their votes in the 2027 general election, warning that temporary inducements such as food items cannot be compared to the long-term consequences of poor leadership.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the appeal on Saturday during the inauguration of state coordinators of RiseUpNaija (RUN), a political movement supporting his 2027 presidential bid, in Abuja.
Addressing members of the group, the former vice president said his ambition was driven by a commitment to build a Nigeria founded on accountable leadership, strong institutions and equal opportunities for all citizens.
“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.
He lamented the growing wave of emigration among young Nigerians, saying many were leaving the country because they had lost confidence in its future.
Atiku described young people as the country’s largest voting bloc but said they had often allowed themselves to be divided along ethnic, religious and political lines while a small political elite determined the nation’s future.
He urged them to reject vote-buying and other forms of political inducement.
“Your vote is far more valuable than any amount of money a politician can offer. Do not exchange four years of your future for one afternoon of inducement. A bag of rice will disappear,” he said.
The former vice president also challenged Nigerian youths to move beyond online activism and participate actively in the democratic process.
According to him, while social media has helped shape public discourse and hold governments accountable, it cannot replace active participation at the polls.
“Hashtags do not count votes. Livestreams do not secure polling units. Tweets do not defend democracy. Only citizens do,” he said.
He urged eligible voters to register, verify their registration, understand the Electoral Act, volunteer during elections, serve as polling agents where possible and help protect the integrity of the electoral process through lawful and peaceful means.
Atiku argued that although the political establishment may possess significant financial resources, the numerical strength of Nigerian youths could determine the outcome of the election if they participate massively.
“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. Democracy belongs to those who show up,” he added.
Calling for national unity, Atiku urged Nigerians to reject politics based on ethnic and religious divisions and instead support leaders based on competence, character and ideas.
“Our shared challenges must produce a shared purpose. In 2027, let us vote for competence. Let us vote for character, ideas and for the future,” he said.
He also called on citizens to reject violence, intimidation and vote-buying, insisting that democracy should not become “a marketplace where votes are purchased instead of earned.”
The RiseUpNaija movement, according to organisers, comprises young people drawn from several opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
Speaking at the event, the convener of RUN, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, said the movement aims to mobilise 20 million active voters for the ADC’s presidential candidate in 2027.
He said the organisation plans to establish a presence in every polling unit across the country, with a target of at least 100 members in each of Nigeria’s roughly 176,000 polling units.
According to Ibrahim-Imam, the initiative would amount to about 17.6 million registered members nationwide, adding that Adamawa State currently leads the movement’s membership drive.