A civil society group, Advocacy for Integrity and Rule of Law, has launched a massive grassroots campaign across 19 northern states aimed at mobilising 10 million Nigerians who did not vote in the last general elections. The goal is to promote civic education, encourage respect for the rule of law, and boost voter turnout ahead of the 2027 elections.
The initiative was unveiled during the inauguration of the Yobe State chapter of the organisation, where National Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Gamawa addressed the audience. Gamawa said the mission is to reawaken Nigerians’ sense of duty to the nation by encouraging values, respect for laws, and active participation in the democratic process.
He explained that the focus is on those who chose not to vote during the last elections, which saw only about 40 percent voter turnout. The group plans to engage these citizens directly in their communities, educating them about their rights and how to make informed choices at the polls.
“We are not just telling them to vote,” Gamawa said, “we’re teaching them how to vote with understanding, based on ideology, not money.”
As part of its strategy, the group has established active offices in 16 northern states and appointed coordinators at both state and local government levels in Yobe. This grassroots structure is expected to help sustain civic engagement and reach neglected communities.
Gamawa urged citizens to reject financial inducement during elections, warning that vote-buying leads to broken promises and poor leadership. He reminded Nigerians that short-term gains from selling votes only result in long-term losses.
“Those who collected money during the last elections can see it’s already gone. What remains is disappointment. We must now vote for policies, for visions that match our hopes for the future,” he said.
The organisation, while non-partisan, works to scrutinise political manifestos and interact with candidates to evaluate their governance plans. Gamawa said the group’s focus is on identifying credible leaders who have clear, actionable agendas.
“Our role is to look past the noise and find leaders with realistic plans,” he said. “We assess what each candidate can do in their first 100 days and guide our members to vote with clarity.”
He stressed that responsible citizenship goes beyond casting a vote, urging Nigerians to take ownership of national development by holding leaders accountable.
“The rule of law must live in us. It’s not just the government’s job to protect Nigeria—it’s ours too,” Gamawa added.
He described vote trading as a betrayal of national integrity and urged citizens to rise above such practices to secure a better future for the country.
