Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says his newly launched citizen-engagement platform, Ask AA, received 1,000 questions from Nigerians within 30 minutes of its launch.
Mr Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, disclosed this on Thursday night, shortly after unveiling the platform designed to allow Nigerians to question him directly on his political record, policy proposals and plans ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The initiative is aimed at providing citizens with an avenue to seek clarification on issues ranging from the economy and security to technology, job creation and the rising cost of living.
The Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, had earlier announced the launch in a statement, saying the platform would allow Nigerians to engage the former vice president on issues affecting the country.
According to the campaign council, Mr Atiku will personally respond to questions submitted through the portal, with members of his media team also assisting in providing answers.
The platform is intended to bridge the communication gap between political leaders and citizens by making the candidate’s policy positions and record in public service more accessible to voters.
Announcing the initiative on his social media accounts, Mr Atiku said he conceived the platform out of his belief that leadership should involve continuous engagement between those seeking public office and the people they intend to serve.
“Leadership is a two-way conversation,” he said.
The former vice president argued that governance had, for too long, appeared distant from ordinary Nigerians because of bureaucratic barriers that limited communication between leaders and citizens.
“For too long, governance has felt distant—locked behind walls of bureaucracy. But our country’s greatest resource isn’t oil or land; it is our people. If we are going to build the Nigeria of our dreams, we must start by tearing down the walls between leaders and the people,” he said.
Mr Atiku said Ask AA was designed to promote transparency, accountability and dialogue by allowing Nigerians to question him directly without intermediaries.
“That is why I am launching Ask AA—a direct citizen-engagement platform built for transparency, accountability and dialogue. No filters, no intermediaries,” he said.
He said Nigerians could use the platform to challenge his economic record, examine his policy proposals on technology, security and job creation, and offer suggestions on how to address the country’s challenges.
“Whether you want to question my economic record, discuss my policy plans for technology, security and job creation, or share your own recommendations for national progress, nothing is off the table. I want to hear your questions, your policy critiques and your best ideas,” he said.
Mr Atiku also disclosed that he would personally telephone selected participants who provide their contact details on the platform to hear about their experiences and the challenges affecting their daily lives.
“Beyond answering questions here, I will personally call selected citizens who leave their contact details so I can hear directly about their experiences and the issues affecting their daily lives,” he said.
He added that the use of technology to promote transparent governance should begin with how political leaders engage with citizens rather than remain a promise for the future.
“A transparent, technology-driven government is not a promise for tomorrow. It begins with how we listen to you today,” he said.
The campaign council also announced plans to extend access to the platform through a radio interface for communities without internet connectivity. However, it did not provide details on how the proposed arrangement would work.
The launch comes as political parties and prospective candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and the cost of living expected to feature prominently in political debates.
Mr Atiku served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 and contested the presidency under the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019 and 2023 before aligning with the ADC ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The Ask AA platform offers Nigerians an opportunity to seek answers on his proposed policies and scrutinise his record as he positions himself for the 2027 presidential election.