Launch of $2.5bn Dangote Tank Farm and Regional Pipeline Project most memorable day of my Presidency - Namibian President

My Solutions to Nigeria's Problems, Atiku kicks off Campaign in Sokoto

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has unveiled proposed policy measures to address economic hardship, insecurity and declining living standards in Nigeria if elected president in 2027.

Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the pledge at the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He said his administration would reopen Nigeria’s land borders to boost trade with neighbouring African countries, tackle insecurity and reduce pilgrimage fares for both Muslim and Christian faithful.

“I will reopen the country’s land borders to allow trade with our sister countries, confront worsening insecurity and reduce pilgrimage fares for Muslim and Christian faithful if elected president in 2027,” he pledged.

The former vice-president said reopening the borders would create economic opportunities for farmers, traders, transporters and other business operators, while strengthening Nigeria’s commercial relations with neighbouring countries.

He also promised to reconsider and restore petroleum subsidy as part of measures to cushion the effects of rising fuel prices, reduce transportation costs and ease the burden of high commodity prices on Nigerians.

Abubakar said his proposed policies would prioritise citizens’ welfare, stimulate economic activities, create employment opportunities and improve household incomes.

The presidential candidate urged Nigerians to support the ADC in the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the party would provide the leadership and policy alternatives needed to address the country’s challenges.

Earlier, the ADC National Chairman, David Mark, expressed confidence in the party’s growing acceptance in Sokoto State, saying the massive reception accorded its leaders demonstrated the residents’ readiness to embrace the party.

Mark said the impressive turnout from the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport through the streets of Sokoto metropolis indicated the party’s growing political influence in the state.

“Our members and supporters must sustain the momentum. The enthusiasm displayed by the people should translate into electoral victories for our party,” he urged.

Similarly, the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan’iya, assured Abubakar of overwhelming electoral support from the state.

Dan’iya said the party would mobilise its grassroots structures, supporters and political stakeholders across the state to secure substantial votes for Abubakar and other ADC candidates in the 2027 elections.

He said the commitment would be demonstrated at the ballot box, adding that the party was determined to translate the enthusiasm witnessed at the campaign flag-off into electoral success.

Also speaking, Aminu Tambuwal (ADC-Sokoto South) said Nigeria urgently needed a change in leadership to address its security and economic challenges.

“Nigerians deserve a government capable of guaranteeing security, economic stability, social protection and opportunities for improved living conditions,” he said.

Tambuwal urged Nigerians to embrace the ADC as a credible political alternative and support Abubakar’s presidential ambition, saying the 2027 general elections presented an opportunity to change the country’s political direction.

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INEC vows to conduct Free, Fair, Credible, Inclusive General Elections in 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the international community of its commitment to delivering free, fair, credible and inclusive general elections in 2027 which aligns with international best standards.

INEC ​‌‌​‍‌‍⁠⁠‍‌⁠‌‍⁠⁠‍​‌​Chairman, Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, to INEC headquarters.

Amupitan noted that restoring public trust, enhancing operational efficiency and safeguarding the integrity of every ballot remained the central pillars of his administration.

“Your arrival comes at a defining period in our national journey, as Nigeria deepens its democratic processes and advances institutional reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We view your visit today as a continuation of the enduring partnership and shared commitment to democratic integrity that exists between Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” he said.

Acknowledging the United Kingdom’s long-standing support through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and development partners, Amupitan called for expanded strategic collaboration in critical areas as 2027 approaches.

He listed priority partnership areas to include election cybersecurity architecture, specialised capacity building for the commission’s personnel and joint initiatives to counter artificial intelligence-driven manipulation, disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

“The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy matters not only to our citizens but to the peace, stability and economic growth of the entire West African sub-region and the African continent.

“We assure you and the international community that INEC remains resolutely independent, impartial and committed to delivering a 2027 general elections that meets the highest global standards,” Amupitan said.

Reviewing recent electoral activities, the INEC cited the successful conduct of off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, alongside the FCT Area Council polls and 16 state and federal legislative by-elections.

He explained that the off-cycle polls served as operational testing grounds, recording major advancements in early logistics deployment and high Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) reliability.

Amupitan said that the elections also witnessed swift uploading of polling unit results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal as well as priority voting access for persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women and the elderly.

He said that with over 70 days to the 2027 general elections, the commission had successfully executed nine out of the 14 key activities outlined in its revised timetable and schedule of activities.

To ensure that every registered voter exercised their franchise, Amupitan said that INEC had launched an intensive permanent voter card (PVC) collection drive, decentralised across all the 774 local government areas down to the ward registration level.

He also emphasised measures taken to protect candidate nominations under Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2026 through the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal (ICNP).

He disclosed that the platform successfully processed nominations across 21 registered political parties, encompassing 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates from 18 parties, 4,860 National Assembly candidates, 936 governorship candidates and 9,692 state assembly candidates.

On technical infrastructure, the INEC boss revealed that the commission had secured 57,000 new BVAS devices.

He added that comprehensive zonal physical and operational assessments were ongoing, with the South-South evaluation concluded and the North-Central assessment scheduled to commence on Thursday.

In his remarks, the high commissioner, who said that he had been in Nigeria for eight weeks, noted that the courtesy visit was primarily to familiarise himself with INEC’s operations and the preparations for the elections.

Vowles underscored the importance of Nigeria’s democracy to its citizens, the West African sub-region and the international community, describing the forthcoming elections as an important opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate how a strong democracy could function in a large and diverse country.

“The reason I suppose that we wanted a courtesy call is perhaps an obvious one, but just the recognition of how much Nigeria’s democracy matters to Nigeria, to 240 million Nigerians, to the region and to the world.

“I guess as a foreigner in your country, recognising the importance of Nigeria’s democracy globally is such an important thing.

“So, I wanted to recognise that, and the opportunity to understand the operations and the preparations for Nigeria’s elections.

“I would probably say that in our conversation, we talked about how the forthcoming elections are a really important opportunity for Nigeria to showcase to the world how a strong democracy in a large, diverse country should operate.

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