The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced plans to mobilise and train more than 1.5 million youths ahead of the 2027 general elections as part of efforts to protect the party’s votes at polling units across Nigeria.
The initiative was disclosed during an ADC town hall meeting organised by the party’s support groups in Abuja, where party leaders stressed the need for stronger grassroots mobilisation and effective monitoring of the electoral process.
According to the party, its support groups have already established structures, including a vote protection committee and logistics teams, to coordinate activities at polling units during the election.
Former National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Okey Nwaosu, said the party currently has at least 1,500 support groups working towards strengthening its campaign structure and ensuring that its votes are adequately protected.
The party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, represented at the meeting, urged the support groups to mobilise voters across the country while warning members against selling their votes or allowing themselves to be influenced by financial inducements.
He said the 2027 election presented Nigerians with another opportunity to make a decisive choice about the country’s leadership.
The party also intensified its call for grassroots participation, with speakers insisting that electoral victories are determined at polling units rather than in Abuja.
ADC National Women Leader, Naomi Nasara, urged Nigerian women to actively participate in the electoral process and protect their votes against intimidation, while introducing the mobilisation slogan, “One Woman, 10 Votes.”
Senator Dino Melaye also criticised what he described as repeated harassment of opposition figures by state institutions, warning that the ADC would resist any further attempts to intimidate its presidential candidate.
The party’s campaign message centred largely on economic hardship, insecurity and the removal of fuel subsidy, with several speakers calling for the restoration of the subsidy as part of measures they believe could ease the burden on Nigerians.
ADC spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, Barrister Kenneth, meanwhile, called for greater cooperation among opposition parties, arguing that despite differences in political platforms, the opposition must develop a unified strategy to challenge the ruling party in 2027.
With its proposed youth mobilisation and polling-unit protection structure, the ADC is positioning its support groups as a major component of its strategy to translate nationwide grassroots support into electoral strength in the 2027 elections.
