Forrmer Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential bid has gathered momentum after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate inaugurated state coordinators of the RiseUpNaija Movement (RUN), unveiling an ambitious grassroots mobilisation strategy aimed at delivering 20 million votes for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the next general election.
RUN, a coalition of young Nigerians drawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and other political groups, formally commenced its nationwide campaign with the inauguration of coordinators from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The launch, held during a leadership retreat in Abuja, signalled a major shift in Atiku’s political strategy from coalition building to grassroots expansion, with the movement announcing plans to establish structures in every polling unit across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Atiku challenged Nigerian youths to reject vote buying, resist political violence and actively participate in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former Vice President said his decision to seek the presidency again was inspired by his conviction that Nigeria could still overcome its mounting political and economic challenges through accountable leadership and stronger institutions.
“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 declared.
He described young Nigerians as the country’s greatest national asset but lamented that poor leadership had denied them opportunities to realise their potential.
“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 said.
Atiku urged young voters not to exchange their future for financial inducements during elections, insisting that credible leadership could only emerge through active citizen participation.
“Your vote is far more valuable than any amount of money a politician can offer. 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.
Speaking after the inauguration, Convener of the RiseUpNaija Movement, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, unveiled an aggressive membership drive designed to build what he described as the largest grassroots political network ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Our target is to have 20 million active voters to deliver our candidate in 2027,” Ibrahim-Imam said.
He directed the newly inaugurated coordinators to embark on massive membership registration across their states and announced a one-month competition among state chapters, with a prize for the state recording the highest number of registered members.
According to him, the movement plans to establish a presence in each of Nigeria’s approximately 176,000 polling units, with a minimum of 100 members in every unit.
“We must have a presence in every polling unit. Our target is to have at least 100 members in every polling unit,” he stated.
He explained that achieving the target would translate to over 17.6 million registered members nationwide, adding that Adamawa State currently tops the membership chart.
Chairman of the RiseUpNaija Coordinating Council, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, said the movement had evolved from a small gathering at Ibrahim-Imam’s residence into a nationwide organisation with structures in 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 maintained that the movement’s endorsement of Atiku was based on its belief that Nigeria required competent leadership capable of reviving the economy, strengthening national unity and tackling insecurity.