Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm over the growing sense of hopelessness among Nigerian youths. He said many young people are losing faith in the country due to rising hardship, bad governance, and what they believe to be fraudulent elections.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Atiku expressed deep concern over the frustrations regularly shared with him by young Nigerians. He revealed that he recently hosted a delegation of youth leaders from the 19 northern states, led by Alhaji Adamu Bappa Gombe, and their message was the same: the system is broken and their votes don’t seem to count.
Atiku wrote, “I am extremely concerned at how young Nigerians are losing hope about the future of our country. Every time they come to have a conversation with me about bad governance, fraudulent elections, and resultant hardship being faced by citizens, I deeply feel sad about the situation.”
He noted that the youths spoke of how government policies were negatively affecting their businesses and daily lives. Despite their concerns, the former Vice President said he encouraged them to remain hopeful and not give up on the democratic process.
“I told them the change they desire can only come through the ballot,” he said. “I reminded them that the change they desire cannot be attained by voter apathy and that 25% to 30% voter turnout in every election cycle is not encouraging.”
Atiku challenged the young people to take more responsibility in influencing national decisions by fully participating in elections, especially as the 2027 general elections approach. He stressed that high voter turnout among youths could make a huge difference in leadership recruitment and bring about the kind of governance they desire.
“Young Nigerians must understand the power they hold. They have the numbers to bring about real change, but only if they show up and vote,” he said.
He assured them that his political camp remains committed to rescuing the country from what he described as “anti-democratic forces” and bad leadership. He emphasized that Nigeria cannot be rebuilt without the active involvement of its youth population.
Atiku’s message comes at a time when many Nigerians, especially the youth, are battling with high unemployment, inflation, insecurity, and rising cost of living. The 2023 elections were also heavily criticised by local and international observers over lack of transparency, logistical failures, and issues with result transmission.
Voter turnout in Nigeria has remained one of the lowest globally. In the 2023 presidential election, less than 30% of registered voters participated — a situation blamed on distrust in the electoral system, fear of violence, and general disillusionment with political leaders.
Despite the bleak picture, Atiku insists that democratic engagement remains the best path forward. He called on the youth to prepare for 2027 by mobilizing, organizing, and voting massively to take control of their future.
“We shall not relent until Nigeria is recovered,” Atiku declared.
