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African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerian youths to reject vote-buying and other inducements from politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku spoke on Saturday in Abuja during the inauguration of state coordinators of RiseUpNaija, a political movement supporting his presidential campaign.
The former Vice-President said his ambition was driven by a desire to build a Nigeria with accountable leadership, strong institutions and equal opportunities.
He urged young Nigerians, who make up the country’s largest voting population, to resist political manipulation and recognise the long-term value of their votes.
Atiku said youths should not trade four years of their future for temporary inducements, stressing that items such as food bought for votes would quickly be consumed.
“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,” Atiku said.
“I see brilliant young people leaving Nigeria, not because they have stopped loving their country, but because they no longer believe their country loves them back,” he said.
“Young Nigerians constitute the largest voting population in our country.
“Yet, too often, you have allowed yourselves to be divided by tribe, religion and political manipulation while a much smaller political class decides your future. That must end.
“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 added.
He also urged young Nigerians to turn their influence on social media into active participation in the electoral process by registering to vote, verifying their registration, understanding the Electoral Act, volunteering and observing elections.
According to Atiku, social media could influence public debate but could not by itself protect democracy or determine election outcomes.
“Hashtags do not count votes. Livestreams do not secure polling units. Tweets do not defend democracy. Only citizens do,” he said.
“Our challenge in 2027 is therefore clear.
“We must transform online influence into offline participation. 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,” he added.
He said the large number of young voters could outweigh the financial strength of established political actors if they participated peacefully and defended the integrity of the electoral process.
Atiku also called on youths to reject ethnic and religious divisions and vote based on competence, character, ideas and the future of the country.
He urged them to reject violence, intimidation and vote-buying, arguing that democracy should be based on earned support rather than purchased votes.
“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.
“In 2027, let us vote for competence. Let us vote for character, ideas and for the future.
“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, ”he added.
The RiseUpNaija movement comprises youths drawn from several opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, according to reports.
The convener of the movement, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, urged the newly appointed state coordinators to build grassroots structures across the country ahead of the 2027 election.
He said the movement was targeting 20 million active voters and planned to have a presence in every polling unit, with at least 100 members in each.
Ibrahim-Imam said the target would amount to about 17.6 million registered members across Nigeria’s roughly 176,000 polling units, adding that Adamawa currently leads the movement’s membership drive.
