Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar on Saturday urged Nigerians, particularly the youth, to reject vote-buying and prioritise competence, character and ideas over temporary material inducements in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the inauguration of state coordinators of the RiseUpNaija Movement in Abuja, Atiku emphasised that the country’s future must not be traded for short-term gifts distributed during election campaigns.
“In 2027, let us vote for competence. Let us vote for character. Let us vote for ideas. Let us vote for the future,” Atiku declared.
He warned young voters against exchanging their ballots for temporary benefits, stating: “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. A few thousand naira will be spent. A campaign T-shirt will eventually fade. But the consequences of electing incompetent leadership will remain with you long after the campaign has ended.”
Atiku stressed that selling votes amounts to surrendering opportunities for better schools, hospitals, jobs, electricity, security and accountable governance. He challenged young Nigerians to transform their social media influence into active political participation by registering to vote, volunteering during elections, serving as polling agents and peacefully defending the integrity of the electoral process.
“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.
The former Vice President clarified that his bid for the presidency is not driven by the privileges of office but by a deep belief in a better Nigeria.
“I am not seeking office for its privileges. I seek it because I still believe in the Nigeria that is capable of becoming a nation where leadership is accountable, institutions are strong, opportunities are abundant and every citizen, regardless of background, has a fair chance to succeed.”
Atiku described young Nigerians as the country’s greatest asset and urged them to become “builders of a new Nigeria” by mobilising eligible voters, educating first-time voters, and rejecting both vote-buying and electoral violence.
He added that the greatest service citizens can render any politician is not fighting for him, but insisting that he earns their vote through ideas, character, competence and integrity.
The RiseUpNaija Movement, a multi-party youth mobilisation platform that has endorsed Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid on the ADC platform, comprises young Nigerians drawn from the APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP and other political parties.