What will you say to encourage households to vote despite past election problems?

Yet that same INEC undermined the use of that technology during the elections and collation process and declared as winner someone who clearly did not win the Presidential election. They then went further to take sides in the courts in a dogfight to defend their illegality. Who would convince the millions of Nigerians to vote in future elections after they suffered endlessly on queues to register to vote, to collect PVCs and to vote, based on INEC’s assurances only to see their votes stolen and given to someone they did not vote for? When people lose trust and confidence in elections, democracy is practically on life support. And by affirming and legitimizing the continued lack of transparency in our electoral system the courts are continuing to usurp the rights of voters to elect their leaders. The other grave implication is that contestants in Nigeria’s elections should do whatever is necessary to be declared the winner. That includes identity theft, impersonation, forging of educational and other documents, perjury, and violence.

And, that is why, I am appealing to the good people of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states to come out in large numbers this Saturday to vote for the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in those respective elections. In Bayelsa State, Governor Duoye Diri has given a good account of himself as a leader who is directly responsible to the people. His giant strides in the areas of infrastructure and social development speak volumes about how his government has been able to touch the lives of the people positively. In Kogi, Senator Dino Melaye has shown great capacity to stand on the side of the people and, by so doing, using every opportunity available to him to drive speedy development to his constituents. Electing him governor will afford him a bigger platform to do even more. In Imo State, too, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu has a rich profile of a political leader who is not only in touch with the grassroots but is committed to protecting the interests of his constituents. Senator Anyanwu is a political leader who I believe has what it takes to take Imo State to a higher pedestal in good governance.

While our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has put forth visionary leaders whose main objective is to serve the people, it is a different story altogether with our main rival, the APC. In Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo, candidates flying the flags of the APC are known to be stooges of some godfathers within or outside of those states. The elections this Saturday are absolutely about the people. It is absolutely not about any political godfather. That is why it is important for the people of Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi state to come out in large numbers to vote for the PDP and to reject the APC that has brought us untold hardship and misery. These elections are more about the fortunes of the common people, and it is my firm belief that when the people vote and stand to protect their votes, democracy wins. When democracy wins, the people invariably win. Thank you all for listening, and I wish you a pleasant polling experience on Saturday. -AA

Today, I charged the youths, not to give up on Nigeria's democracy notwithstanding the deliberate efforts of the ruling party to constrict the democratic space. My counsel to the youths was in response to a group of PDP Grassroots Supporters, FCT, led by Amb. Akin Akinleye, which paid me a visit on Wednesday in Abuja. The group visited to indicate its willingness to join forces with the new coalition. I admonished them that although elections keep being stolen and do not reflect the choice of the people, citizens should continue to come out to cast their votes during elections. I reminded them that even though we had over 90 million registered voters, not up to 30 million came out to vote in the 2023 elections. It is imperative that they show up to vote because it is about their future. Earlier, I had received the Sardaunan Matasa Forum (Kano Chapter), led by Alhaji Babangida Abubakar Sani.

The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect. As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians. What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people. I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress. -AA

I have spoken to this directly: when I did not accept the 2023 presidential election result, I said so plainly. I respected the judgment of the court, but I refused to accept it, because I believed it fell short of substantial justice. I did not stop there, I asked my lawyers to activate my right of appeal, all the way to the Supreme Court, rather than take any action outside the law. My conviction is that any dispute over an outcome belongs in the courts, pursued through fair hearing, so that confidence in our democracy can be strengthened rather than broken.