Atiku Targets 20m Votes With RiseUpNaija Movement

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched an ambitious nationwide mobilisation campaign, unveiling a strategy to secure 20 million votes for the African Democratic Congress, ADC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The magazine reports that Abubakar secured close to seven million votes when he ran under the People’s  Democratic Party, PDP during the 2023 presidential election, which he lost to incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The launch of the RiseUpNaija Movement (RUN) in Abuja marks one of the clearest indications yet that Atiku’s presidential bid has entered a new phase, shifting from coalition negotiations to an extensive grassroots mobilisation effort, according to political analysts.
At a leadership retreat on Saturday, the former vice president inaugurated state coordinators of the movement, charging them to build campaign structures across the country and inspire Nigerians—particularly young people—to take ownership of the democratic process.
The movement draws its membership from across the political spectrum, including the All Progressives Congress, APC Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and other political platforms.
Addressing the gathering, Abubakar urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and support leaders based on competence, integrity and accountability rather than financial inducements.
“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,” he said.
He lamented the growing number of young Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities, arguing that years of poor leadership had weakened confidence in Nigeria’s future.
According to him, the power of the electorate remains stronger than money politics if citizens actively participate in 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. Your vote is far more valuable than any amount of money a politician can offer,” he said