2027: Come out and vote as if it were Judgment Day, Atiku tells Nigerians

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are going round villages in northern Nigeria to buy voters’ cards in an attempt to manipulate the electoral process.

Atiku made the allegation on Wednesday in Sokoto while addressing supporters at the flag-off of the ADC presidential campaign, where he urged Nigerians to come out in large numbers to vote and protect their votes during the forthcoming elections.

Atiku and his entourage arrived in Sokoto at about 1pm but did not reach the ADC State Secretariat, the venue of the campaign rally, until around 4:30pm, following the large crowd that turned out to welcome them.

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He warned that failure to turn out massively could create an opportunity for those allegedly buying voters’ cards to manipulate the process and give the impression that the opposition lacked sufficient support in the North.

“Let us come out and vote as if it were Judgment Day. Come out in large numbers, protect your votes and escort them until they are secured.

“If you fail to turn out in large numbers, people will go from village to village buying voters’ cards to create the impression that we do not have as many supporters as those in the South.

“Go out and cast your vote, and protect it,” he said.

The former Vice President said Sokoto was chosen for the campaign flag-off because of its historical and religious significance, describing the state as a centre of peace and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

“They said we would not come to Sokoto, but here we are. They said we would not hold the campaign rally, but we have come.

“I follow history, and I also believe in peaceful coexistence. Sokoto is a centre of peace, and people of all faiths understand the importance of Sokoto to Nigeria. That is why we decided to launch our campaign in Sokoto,” he said.

Atiku promised that an ADC administration would tackle insecurity, reopen Nigeria’s land borders and make Hajj and Christian pilgrimages affordable for Nigerians.

He also extended his condolences to families of those killed in various attacks across the country.

The ADC presidential candidate further urged Nigerians to come out with their families and vote for the party, describing participation in the electoral process as a civic and their paramount responsibility

Earlier, the Sokoto State Coordinator of the ADC campaign, Senator Ibrahim Lamido, described Sokoto as a one-party state, insisting that the ADC was the party with overwhelming support in the state.

He called on supporters to mobilise and vote for all ADC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

The Governorship candidate of ADC in the state, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, said all attempts to prevent the ADC presidential candidate from visiting the state had failed.

“They have made fruitless efforts to stop you from coming to Sokoto, but you are now here. You will get our support,” he said.

The Director-General of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council also expressed happiness over the reception accorded the party’s leaders, saying Nigerians were facing poverty, insecurity and serious challenges in the health sector.

He said the party was committed to addressing the country’s challenges and urged supporters to come out en masse, vote for the ADC and protect their votes.

Former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of failing to address insecurity, unemployment and infrastructural challenges.

Tambuwal urged Nigerians to mobilise at the grassroots and vote for ADC candidates at all levels, from the presidency to other elective positions.

He said Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, had the capacity to address the country’s numerous challenges.

Also speaking, the ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, urged supporters to resist any attempt to rig the forthcoming elections.

Amaechi criticised the Tinubu administration over the rising cost of living and alleged corruption, accusing the government of borrowing money without translating the loans into improved living conditions for Nigerians.

He challenged supporters to compare their current economic conditions with what they experienced before the present administration.

Amaechi said he was impressed by the massive turnout at the rally, recalling that the last time he witnessed a similar crowd in Sokoto was in 2019 during the presidential campaign of Late Muhammadu Buhari.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, said the massive reception accorded the party’s delegation from the airport to the rally venue demonstrated Sokoto residents’ readiness to support the party.

He said the journey from the airport took about three hours because of the large crowd that came out to welcome the delegation.

Mark expressed confidence in the party’s political prospects in the state, describing the combination of Atiku and Amaechi as one capable of addressing Nigeria’s insecurity and other challenges.

He thanked the people of Sokoto for the reception and support shown to the party’s leadership.