Atiku says 2027 election is rescue mission, urges Nigerians to back ADC

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (Agency Report) — Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the 2027 general election as a rescue mission for Nigerians, urging voters to support the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a bid to improve living conditions and make life more affordable.

Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate, spoke on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC).

He urged council members to take the party’s message to communities nationwide and mobilise voters around its promises of economic recovery and improved welfare.

Advertisement

“As members of this esteemed Campaign Council, we must make this choice clear to Nigerians: the election is about their welfare and the future of their families,” he said.

Atiku urged eligible voters to use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing the ballot as a crucial instrument for determining whether living conditions would improve.

He also stressed the importance of electoral transparency, warning that policy promises and security plans would mean little if votes were manipulated or stolen.

According to him, accredited party agents, civil society organisations and election observers should be allowed to independently verify results to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

“Transparency is not a crime,” Atiku said, adding that election technology should be open to scrutiny and independent audits.

He called for strict penalties for vote suppression, result manipulation and other forms of electoral fraud, arguing that such measures were necessary to protect voters’ choices.

The former vice-president also condemned reported attempts to prevent opposition candidates from campaigning in Benue State, insisting that no community should be inaccessible to opposition parties.

He pledged that ADC candidates would campaign across the country, from coastal communities to northern regions, and resist what he described as unlawful restrictions on their political activities.

Atiku Outlines Economic Priorities

On petroleum policy, Atiku advocated support for petroleum products refined locally and sold in the domestic market. He also called for budgetary allocations, spending limits and independent audits to ensure accountability.

He said the country’s economic challenges extended beyond fuel prices, highlighting the need to make food more affordable, improve electricity supply, create jobs, support businesses and strengthen security on roads and farms.

Atiku also called for the removal of barriers preventing young Nigerians from fully utilising their talents and competing globally.

“A speech about growth means nothing to a family that cannot afford dinner,” he said.

Describing the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council as an important moment for the party, Atiku urged members to approach their responsibilities with urgency, discipline and commitment as preparations for the 2027 general election continue.

-NAN