ABUJA — Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, GCON, has called on Nigerian youths to register, organise and lead, urging them to take direct ownership of the country's political future rather than remain spectators in the political process.
Speaking at the National Youth Leadership Summit of the ADC in Abuja on August 12, 2026, the former Vice President pledged that at least 30 percent of the party's legislative candidates would be under the age of 40, with a significant number under 30, describing it as a commitment to genuine youth inclusion rather than ceremonial appointments.
Atiku renewed scrutiny of President Bola Tinubu's academic credentials, alleging discrepancies in the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including conflicting dates, June 22 and June 27, as well as questions over signatures and the description of the degree. He argued that an ordinary Nigerian job applicant would be required to explain such inconsistencies and questioned why the standard should be different for the country's highest office.
The ADC candidate painted a bleak picture of the economic conditions facing young Nigerians, citing mass emigration ("Japa"), unemployment among graduates, and the struggles of small businesses. He blamed the current APC administration for policies he said have deepened hardship, stating that "leadership is not the art of explaining suffering. Leadership is the responsibility to reduce it."
Atiku issued a strong warning to INEC, security agencies and the Tinubu administration over the security posture ahead of the Osun governorship election, describing the scale of deployment as resembling preparation "for war rather than conducting an election." He called for security forces to protect voters rather than intimidate them, and urged INEC to ensure timely arrival of materials, free voting, honest counting and transparent transmission of results, describing the Osun election as "a test" ahead of next year's general election.
The former Vice President laid out a series of commitments targeted at young Nigerians, including expanded access to finance for entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers and creative-economy workers; reform of the education system toward science, technology, vocational training and digital skills; treating broadband as essential national infrastructure; and strengthening security architecture and electoral institutions.
Atiku urged young people to hold his party accountable, warning against blind loyalty and cautioning youths against being divided along ethnic or religious lines. He closed his address with an appeal for unity and sustained political engagement beyond the summit, urging attendees to carry the momentum back to their wards, campuses and communities.
The summit was themed around the charge: "Register. Organise. Lead."
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