Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially inaugurated state coordinators for the RiseUpNaija Movement, marking the start of a major effort to secure 20 million votes for his 2027 presidential bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This initiative signifies a strategic pivot toward grassroots organizing, extending the campaign’s reach from the national level down to individual polling units.
The movement brings together young supporters previously associated with the APC, PDP, LP, and NNPP. During a leadership retreat in Abuja, Atiku encouraged youth to prioritize civic participation over financial gain, stating that his goal is to foster accountability and equal opportunity. He expressed concern over the migration of talented young Nigerians and emphasized that collective public action is more powerful than political spending.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, the convener of the movement, set a clear objective to establish a presence in every polling unit nationwide. By aiming for at least 100 members per unit, the organization seeks to mobilize roughly 17.6 million voters. Salihu Tanko Yakasai, the head of the coordinating council, highlighted that the movement has expanded across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on securing competent leadership to address national economic and security challenges.
