Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to come out in large numbers and vote in the 2027 general election, describing the exercise as a defining moment that should be treated as seriously as Judgment Day.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the call on Wednesday in Sokoto State during the flag-off of his presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.
He also alleged that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were moving from village to village in northern Nigeria to buy Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in an attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
The former vice president warned that failure by opposition supporters to participate massively in the election could give room for electoral manipulation and create a false impression that the ADC lacked sufficient support in the North.
Addressing supporters at the party’s state secretariat, Atiku urged Nigerians not only to vote but also to remain vigilant and protect their votes until they were secured.
“Let us come out and vote as if it were Judgment Day. Come out in large numbers, protect your votes and escort them until they are secured,” he said.
“If you fail to turn out in large numbers, people will go from village to village buying voters’ cards to create the impression that we do not have as many supporters as those in the South. Go out and cast your vote, and protect it,” he added.
Atiku and his entourage arrived in Sokoto at about 1pm but did not get to the ADC State Secretariat, the venue of the campaign rally, until around 4:30pm because of the large crowd that gathered to welcome them.
The ADC candidate explained that Sokoto was deliberately chosen as the starting point of his campaign because of the state’s historical and religious significance, describing it as an important centre of peace and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
According to him, the decision to begin the campaign in Sokoto was also intended to demonstrate that the party was committed to national unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different religious backgrounds.
“They said we would not come to Sokoto, but here we are. They said we would not hold the campaign rally, but we have come,” Atiku said.
“I follow history, and I also believe in peaceful coexistence. Sokoto is a centre of peace, and people of all faiths understand the importance of Sokoto to Nigeria. That is why we decided to launch our campaign in Sokoto,” he added.
The former vice president also outlined some of the promises of an ADC-led government, including tackling insecurity, reopening Nigeria’s land borders and making religious pilgrimages more affordable for citizens.
He specifically promised that his administration would make both Hajj and Christian pilgrimages affordable for Nigerians, while also addressing the security challenges affecting communities across the country.
Atiku further expressed sympathy for families who had lost loved ones in various attacks and violent incidents across the country.
He urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections, calling on supporters to come out with their families and vote for the ADC and its candidates.
He described voting as a civic responsibility that Nigerians must take seriously if they want to influence the country’s political direction.
Earlier, the Sokoto State Coordinator of the ADC presidential campaign, Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Lamido, described Sokoto as a one-party state, claiming that the ADC enjoyed overwhelming support in the state.
Lamido urged party members, supporters and other stakeholders to mobilise voters and ensure that all ADC candidates received massive support in the forthcoming elections.
Atiku’s Sokoto visit followed the postponement of the campaign flag-off, which was initially scheduled for Saturday, October 31, but was moved to Wednesday, November 4.
The ADC Presidential Campaign Council in Sokoto had explained that the postponement was necessary to address planning and coordination issues ahead of the event.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Bello Aliyu Goronyo, the council said the decision was taken to ensure the successful conduct of the campaign flag-off.
“The decision follows the need to address certain planning and coordination considerations to ensure the successful conduct of the event,” the statement said.
The council also apologised to party leaders, stakeholders and supporters for any inconvenience caused by the change in date.