The wife of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Titi Abubakar, has called on Nigerian youths to support her husband in the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence that they would later want him to serve a second term.
She made the call on Thursday at the ADC All Support Groups Town Hall Meeting in Abuja, where she encouraged young Nigerians to “arise and shine”, saying the time had come for them to take charge.
According to Titi, Atiku has pledged to serve only one term if elected, but she believes Nigerians would eventually ask him to remain in office beyond his first four years.
“By the grace of God, when Atiku comes to this saddle, people will yearn that Atiku should continue and do second term,” she said.
“By then, he would have tutored his deputy; maybe the deputy will take over from him.”
Titi described her husband as an experienced politician and philanthropist, saying he would not have to learn on the job if elected president.
“Atiku is a sellable material. That is why I am so proud of my husband. Atiku is a philanthropist. Atiku has done it before. Atiku is not going to learn on the job. And Atiku is not a novice,” she said.
She also described Atiku as a “man of honour”, arguing that his motivation for seeking the presidency was to improve the lives of Nigerians rather than enrich himself.
“Atiku is a man of honour, a man of his word. Atiku is not coming to chop government money. Atiku wants to give back to you people. Atiku wants you people to know what it is all about government,” she said.
Titi said the 2027 election would give young Nigerians an opportunity to play a significant role in determining the country’s future.
She added that Atiku had pledged to reserve 40 per cent of government appointments for youths and women if elected.
The former vice-president’s wife further advised youths to protect their votes and reject attempts by politicians to influence their decisions with money during elections.
“ADC don’t have that money to give you. Don’t be a sellout. Because these people, they have all our money in their kitties,” she said.
“Don’t allow them to come and give you money and you sell your conscience. If you sell your vote, you are selling the vote of your generation yet unborn.”
Economy is in shambles
Titi also criticised the state of the country, alleging that the constitution and rule of law had been undermined while the economy remained in poor condition.
“Now, today, we have no constitution. We have no rule of law. Nothing is working. Our economy is in shambles,” she said.
“Right from 2023 up to date, there is no budget in Nigeria. And I wonder how people are living. I wonder how people are eating.
“Atiku wants to put things right. We want to be like other nations, but here and now we don’t have anything at all. We are not proud of ourselves.”
She described youths as the campaign’s “foot soldiers” and urged them to mobilise voters, protect polling units and guard against electoral malpractice.
The ADC town hall meeting was held under the theme ‘Together We Can Build the Nigeria We Desire’, with discussions focused on grassroots and polling-unit mobilisation, vote protection, and the participation of youths, women and support groups in the party’s 2027 campaign.