Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has officially launched a nationwide campaign aimed at mobilising 20 million votes ahead of the 2027 general election.
The move was marked by the inauguration of state coordinators of the RiseUpNaija Movement (RUN) during a leadership retreat held in Abuja on Saturday.
The mobilisation platform, made up of young Nigerians drawn from different political parties, is expected to spearhead grassroots campaigns for Atiku’s presidential bid across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Atiku said his ambition was driven by a desire to build a Nigeria where leadership is accountable, institutions are strong and every citizen has equal opportunities to succeed.
“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.
He described Nigeria’s youth as the country’s greatest asset but lamented that poor leadership had denied many of them the opportunities they deserve.
“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 added.
The former vice president also urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and actively 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 stated.
Speaking at the event, RUN Convener Kashim Ibrahim-Imam said the movement’s goal is to mobilise 20 million active voters for the ADC candidate in 2027.
“Our target is to have 20 million active voters to deliver our candidate in 2027,” he said.
He urged coordinators to establish structures across every polling unit nationwide, saying the movement aims to build one of the country’s largest grassroots political networks.
