By Julius Peter, Abuja
Nigerians have been urged to come out en masse during the 2027 general elections and vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the organisers of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) support groups forum insisting that citizens should not be intimidated or discouraged from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
The call was made by Hon. Chief Joshua C. Echendu, National Director of The Gatekeepers International and Organising Secretary of the ADC in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), during the ADC All Support Group Forum Town Hall meeting held in Abuja.
Echendu, who spoke against the backdrop of what he described as the current socio-economic and leadership challenges confronting the country, said Nigerians had endured enough hardship and should use the 2027 elections to demand political change through the ballot box.
He urged eligible voters across the country to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate actively in the electoral process and ensure that their votes count, stressing that citizens should not be afraid to come out and vote.
According to him, Nigeria is currently facing what he described as a serious leadership crisis, arguing that the situation requires a change in political direction and leadership.
He said the ADC and its emerging coalition around former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi would provide Nigerians with an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Nigerians should come out en masse and vote the APC out come 2027. Nobody should be afraid of coming out to vote. People have suffered enough in their hands,” Echendu said.
He maintained that the 2027 election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to make their voices heard and determine the kind of leadership they want for the country.
Echendu called on members and supporters of the ADC, as well as Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the current political and economic situation, to remain mobilised and committed to democratic participation.
He said the responsibility of changing the political leadership of the country ultimately rests with Nigerian voters, stressing that citizens must exercise their franchise peacefully and in accordance with the law.
The ADC chieftain further appealed to supporters of the party to take the campaign for political change to the grassroots, saying that effective political participation should not be limited to major cities or political meetings.
He urged support groups to engage communities, young people, women and other stakeholders on the importance of participating in the electoral process.
According to him, the electorate must be adequately informed about the choices before them in 2027 and encouraged to make decisions based on issues affecting their daily lives.
He also called for a peaceful and credible electoral process, urging political parties and their supporters to respect the rights of other contestants and allow Nigerians to freely make their choices.
The town hall meeting, which brought together members and supporters of the ADC and affiliated support groups, focused on mobilisation and preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly the proposed Atiku Abubakar–Amaechi political platform.
Echendu said the growing interest in the ADC was an indication that Nigerians were looking for an alternative political platform capable of addressing the country’s challenges.
He urged party members to remain united and disciplined, stressing that political mobilisation must be conducted peacefully and within the provisions of the law.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, political parties and emerging alliances are intensifying grassroots mobilisation across the country, with the ADC seeking to position itself as a major alternative platform in the forthcoming contest.
Echendu said the party’s support groups would continue to mobilise voters and engage Nigerians on the need to participate actively in the democratic process.
He appealed to eligible voters not to be discouraged by political developments or past experiences, but to remain committed to exercising their right to vote.
He said Nigerians must recognise the power of their votes and use the ballot box to determine who governs them at every level of government.
The ADC chieftain further called for an electoral environment in which voters can exercise their franchise without fear, intimidation or violence, saying that a credible election remains essential to strengthening democracy and restoring public confidence in the political process.
