Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside political ally Kashim Ibrahim-Imam and the founding National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu, on Saturday inaugurated state coordinators of the RiseUpNaija Movement (RUN), with a charge to mobilise up to 20 million votes for the ADC presidential candidate in 2027.
Speaking at the RUN leadership retreat in Abuja, Atiku said he is not seeking office for its privileges, but to build a Nigeria “where leadership is accountable, institutions are strong, opportunities are abundant and every citizen, regardless of background, has a fair chance to succeed.”
He urged young Nigerians to participate actively, reject vote-buying, and defend 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 Rise Up Naija Movement comprises young men and women drawn from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and other parties.
Atiku said he has spent most of his life fighting for democracy, justice and national progress, and that while time has given him experience, it has not weakened his conviction.
“The fire that inspired me as a young student activist still burns today because every day I see millions of young Nigerians denied opportunities that should have been theirs,” he said.
“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.”
The former VP accused the current political establishment of seeing youth only as “a restless population to be managed, manipulated or mobilised only during elections.”
“I see the greatest national asset Nigeria has ever produced. I see innovators building world-class businesses from laptops and mobile phones. I see young farmers feeding communities despite enormous odds,” he said.
He lamented that “brilliant young people” are leaving Nigeria “not because they have stopped loving their country, but because they no longer believe their country loves them back.”
Ahead of 2027, Atiku urged voters to prioritise competence and character.
“In 2027, let us vote for competence. Let us vote for character. Let us vote for ideas. Let us vote for the future.
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,” he said.
“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.”
Convener of Rise Up Naija, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, while inaugurating the coordinators, charged them to deepen membership registration and build structures nationwide.
“Our target is to have 20 million active voters to deliver our candidate in 2027,” he said.
“We must have a presence in every polling unit. Our target is to have at least 100 members in every polling unit.”
With about 176,000 polling units nationwide, Imam said achieving the target would yield at least 17.6 million registered members. He announced a competition among states with a special prize for the state with the highest membership in one month, noting that Adamawa currently leads.
Chairman of the RUN Coordinating Council, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, said the movement was set up to restore citizens’ confidence in democracy and mobilize Nigerians ahead of 2027.
He said what started as a small gathering in Imam’s residence has now expanded to all 36 states and the FCT.
“Our responsibility is very clear. We must build an organisation that is active not only at the national level but in every state, every local government, every ward, and ultimately every polling unit across Nigeria,” Yakasai said.
He added that the grassroots structures would become “one of the greatest assets” to the ADC and Atiku’s presidential bid.
Yakasai said the movement’s support for Atiku is based on “principle, not personality,” stressing the need for competent leadership, economic recovery, national unity and improved security.