Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has inaugurated state coordinators for the RiseUpNaija Movement, launching a drive to mobilize 20 million votes for his African Democratic Congress presidential candidacy ahead of the 2027 general election.

Addressing the movement’s leadership retreat in Abuja, Atiku said he is not seeking office for its privileges but to build a nation with accountable leadership and strong institutions, urging young Nigerians to reject vote buying and actively defend the electoral process, arguing that no amount of money can overcome the collective will of millions of citizens voting responsibly. He described young Nigerians as the country’s greatest asset, lamenting that many talented graduates leave the country not because they have stopped loving it but because they no longer feel it loves them back, and urged voters in 2027 to choose competence and character over short term inducements.

RiseUpNaija Convener Kashim Ibrahim-Imam charged the newly inaugurated coordinators with intensifying membership registration and establishing structures in every polling unit nationwide, targeting at least 100 members per polling unit to reach a total of 17.6 million registered members across the country’s roughly 176,000 polling units, announcing a month long competition among states to boost registration, with Adamawa currently leading. Coordinating Council Chairman Salihu Tanko Yakasai said the movement, which started from a small gathering, has expanded to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, describing its grassroots structure as a key asset for Atiku’s 2027 campaign built on principle rather than personality.