Kí ni àwọn alátìlẹ́yìn gbọdọ̀ ṣe láti múra sílẹ̀ fún àti dáàbò bo ìbò wọn nínú ìdìbò 2027?

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.

It is with great adulation to God and a heart full of gratitude that I join other patriots to welcome Nigerians to the New Year 2024. The past year was definitely a challenging year, but the lessons that we took away from it are what should prepare us for the future that the New Year holds. It is my belief that one of the reasons the Almighty created time and season is for us to take stock of our realities and effect necessary amends. Certainly, many families and businesses already know the intensity of the trying times that we are currently going through - though we could have taken a completely different pathway, had the government been smarter with their policy prescriptions. The rising cost of food items, goods and services, the malfunction in our national economy and the degenerating state of our national and community security are all existential challenges that we have to face squarely in the New Year.

Our country stands at the cusp of a new beginning, and the decisions that voters in the elections on Saturday shall make will determine how ready we are, as a people, to provoke the march to economic and national recovery. I would also like to advocate for a peaceful election this Saturday and urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the opportunity of this by-election to redeem itself of the fraudulent and shambolic elections of 2023. I want to specifically urge members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party and, indeed, agents of other political parties participating in the elections to conduct themselves according to the laid down regulations on the day of the election. -AA

I condole with the family of Governor @_PastorUmoEno, and the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, over the heartbreaking loss of the First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Patience Umo Eno. The news of her passing, which I received early today, has left me deeply devastated. Mrs. Umo Eno was a remarkable woman who devoted herself tirelessly to the service of humanity and her family. I share in the grief of the people of Akwa Ibom and urge Governor Eno to stand strong in the belief that his beloved wife has found rest in a place of eternal peace. As I pray for the gentle repose of her soul, I also affirm that I stand with the governor and the people of Akwa Ibom in this difficult time. -AA

As we look ahead, let us harness our collective strength to engage all segments of society —governments, businesses, and communities —advocating for actionable solutions that uplift our most vulnerable citizens. In the years to come, I am confident that Nigerians will build upon the foundation laid by Her Excellency Titi and the compassionate individuals dedicated to WOTCLEF’s mission. Let us ensure that no child is denied an education and that no woman suffers through trafficking and exploitation in silence. Let us eliminate the shadows of trafficking and exploitation from our society. Let us unite in purpose and action. Together, we can forge a future where dignity, justice, and hope triumph for every Nigerian. Thank you for being part of this celebration, and for your dedication to this noble cause. Together, let us continue the fight, empowering our citizens and building the society we dreamed of.

It is my fervent prayer that 2025 will usher in a fresh dawn, sweeping away the years of national hardships that have hindered our country’s growth. I particularly pray for a revitalization of our national economy so that we may breathe freely once more, liberated from the suffocating grip of economic hardship. As we celebrate the divine favor that allows us to witness this New Year, let us not forget our fellow Nigerians who were not so fortunate—those whose lives were claimed by the relentless storms of daily hardships. Their struggles remind us of the urgent work that lies ahead. With hope in my heart and faith in our collective strength, I wish you all a prosperous New Year filled with boundless blessings and success in all our endeavors. Together, let us build a safer, stronger, and more unified nation. -AA

I paid a condolence visit to former First Lady Hajiya Aisha Buhari over the death of her nephew, Yusuf Usman Halilu. I was received by Musa Halilu, Dujuman Adamawa. I prayed that Allah will forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. -AA

I paid a condolence visit to former First Lady Hajiya Aisha Buhari over the death of her nephew, Yusuf Usman Halilu. I was received by Musa Halilu, Dujuman Adamawa. I prayed that Allah will forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. -AA

Earlier today, I led a delegation to condole with the family, the people, and the government of Kano over the loss of Alhaji Aminu Dantata. Shortly after visiting the Dantata family, I proceeded to the Government House Kano and was received by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. I expressed sadness over the loss of Alhaji Aminu Danatata. I reminded that as a renowned global entrepreneur, Dantata's demise is not a loss only to the family and the people of Kano, but Nigeria and the world at large. I prayed Allah to grant the deceased Aljannah Firdaus and give the family, the government and people of Kano the fortitude to bear the loss. Governor Abba Kabir expressed happiness at my visit, while using the occasion to thank me for sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral prayers and burial of the legendary businessman. He reiterated the huge contributions of late Aminu Dantata to the development and growth of the economy of Kano in particular, especially in education and healthcare, saying the loss has left a vacuum, difficult to fill. -AA

Governments come and go; history remains. I therefore call on all patriotic Nigerians to engage, mobilize, persuade, and organize. Prepare to vote, and to defend your votes in 2027. Let us vote out hunger, insecurity, unemployment, dishonesty, corruption, abductions, lies, and propaganda. Nigeria deserves better. Nigerians deserve dignity. 2026 is the year to till the soil. 2027 is the year of harvest. It is too late to turn back. Let us rise, organize, and reclaim our country. —AA

A major setback to the 2023 elections is the loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022 that paved the way for the brazen rigging of that election, and the near-impossibility of petitioners to advance their cases in the courts. It is imperative that if the mistakes of the 2023 election are to be corrected, the legal instrument for the conduct of the 2027 and subsequent future elections needs to be reviewed. But as things stand, it has become obvious that the Senate is determined to frustrate the passage of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act. The recent report by FIJ serves as both an indictment of the Senate and a timely call for legislative responsibility. The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill. It is, therefore, imperative that the Senate finalises the amendments and ensures the updated law governs the conduct of the 2027 elections. Anything short of this is a deliberate attempt to rig the election long before the ballots are cast. -AA

This afternoon, I received the Enugu Polling Booths Vanguard for Atiku, a group chiefly concerned with the sanctity of the ballots, led by Chief Obodoeze Ocho. They believe that every vote must count in 2027. I fully agree with them that protecting votes at the Polling Units level is vital for the coming elections. I told them that, for us to have credible elections that earn voters' trust, citizens must take the responsibility of safeguarding votes seriously. Votes will count if they are protected by those who cast them. -AA

Different languages. Different cultures. One reality. No Nigerian youth wakes up hoping for unemployment. No Nigerian parent dreams of sending a child to an unsafe school. No entrepreneur prays for higher inflation. No family wishes to live in fear. Our shared challenges must produce a shared purpose. The Nigeria we seek will never be built on ethnic suspicion or religious division. It will be built by citizens who understand that our diversity is a strength—not a weakness. In 2027, let us vote for competence. Let us vote for character. Let us vote for ideas. Let us vote for the future. Mandate Number Three: Become Builders of a New Nigeria. I ask you today not merely to support a candidate. I ask you to build a movement. A movement founded on ideas. A movement rooted in integrity. A movement committed to peaceful democratic change. Go back to your communities. Go back to your campuses. Go back to your workplaces.

Where competence triumphs over connections. Where justice triumphs over injustice. Where hope triumphs over despair. Where every child can dream without fear. Where every young person can succeed through hard work. Where every citizen can once again believe that government exists to serve the people. The task before us is great. But the Nigerian spirit is greater. The road ahead may not be easy. But no great nation was ever built by people who surrendered to despair. My dear young Nigerians, the future is not something we inherit. The future is something we build. Let history record that when Nigeria called, your generation answered. Let history remember that when democracy was tested, your generation defended it. Let history remember that when hope seemed to fade, your generation restored it. And let history remember that together, we rebuilt the promise of Nigeria. Nigeria does not need another miracle.

Young Nigerians will not remain enthusiastic about elections if they believe participation makes no difference. We must continue strengthening the independence and credibility of our electoral institutions and build a country where election day becomes an ordinary democratic exercise rather than a national emergency. I want a Nigeria where people vote peacefully, the votes are counted transparently, the winner governs, the loser prepares for another contest, and the country moves forward. But democracy is not strengthened merely by what we promise for tomorrow. It is strengthened by what we are prepared to defend today. A WARNING ON THE OSUN ELECTION So before I go further, let me speak directly to INEC, the security agencies and the Tinubu administration about the Osun governorship election. What we are witnessing in the build-up to that election is deeply troubling. The scale and posture of security deployment make it appear as though Nigeria is preparing for war rather than conducting an election.

You speak of young Nigerians building unicorns. I see their talent wherever I go. I see young people learning new skills, making things and looking for a chance to serve their country. They first need work that pays enough to get them through the month. Ambition is abundant in Nigeria. What is scarce is the chance to turn it into a living. And please do not describe every new loan as an opportunity. A student loan does not make education affordable when fees are rising. Under your watch, some institutions have raised fees by more than 400 per cent, and your answer is to offer students loans to pay them. Consumer credit does not make a worker prosperous if repayment takes another bite out of a wage already too small to live on. Tell Nigerians what these programmes have delivered, who has benefited and what they must pay back. The confusion extends to your budgets. You have just signed an extension keeping the 2025 budget in operation until the last day of 2026. The 2026 budget exists alongside it. Soon, your government will ask Nigerians to examine a 2027 budget. How many budgets must be open at once before you can tell the country what was funded, what was completed and what remains unpaid? A budget should be a timetable for delivery, not a ball passed from one year to the next.