Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar said on Sunday that young people across northern Nigeria are increasingly frustrated with bad governance, worsening economic hardship, and electoral irregularities.
Atiku, who disclosed this in a post on his X account, said he met with a delegation of youths representing the 19 northern states who lamented that their votes “no longer count” and that poor government policies are crippling small businesses and livelihoods.
“Every time they come to have a conversation with me about bad governance, fraudulent elections, and the resultant hardship being faced by citizens, I deeply feel sad about the situation,” Atiku said.
He said the youths, led by Adamu Bappa Gombe, complained that government policies are worsening living conditions and discouraging civic participation.
Atiku urged the young people not to give up hope, emphasizing that the change they desire can only come through democratic participation.
“I told them the change they desire can only come through the ballot,” he said. “They have a responsibility to mobilize their fellow young people to keep participating in the process of leadership recruitment through elections.”
He decried voter apathy, noting that turnout levels of 25% to 30% in recent election cycles are “not encouraging,” and called on youths to push for massive participation in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku also pledged to continue resisting what he called “anti-democratic forces,” saying, “We shall not relent until Nigeria is recovered from anti-democratic forces.”
Atiku, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been a perennial presidential candidate.
He recently defected from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aligning with former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in what analysts view as a potential effort to strengthen opposition unity ahead of the 2027 elections.