2027: Adebayo-Bugaje campaign urges Nigerians to guard votes against rigging

The campaign council of the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the forthcoming general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerians to mobilise against alleged plans to manipulate the elections, calling for the establishment of a nationwide network to protect votes.

The campaign also unveiled the Ballot Patriots Movement, a pro-Adebayo-Bugaje civic initiative designed to mobilise citizens across local government areas, wards and polling units to monitor the electoral process and report suspected irregularities.

Chief Media and Communications Adviser to the Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign, Comrade Mark Adebayo, made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday.

He alleged that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could resort to electoral manipulation because of public dissatisfaction with the administration’s performance.

However, he did not provide specific evidence to substantiate the allegation.

According to him, economic hardship, insecurity and deteriorating infrastructure have undermined public confidence in the government and could make it difficult for the ruling party to secure victory in a credible election.

He cited rising living costs, inflation, the depreciation of the naira and high energy expenses as factors worsening the economic situation of Nigerians.

The campaign adviser also criticised the administration’s handling of insecurity, citing persistent cases of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and violent crime.

On infrastructure, he expressed concern over recurring electricity grid failures, poor road conditions and inadequate funding for public healthcare and education.

Adebayo argued that the administration’s performance had weakened its prospects of winning a second term in a free and fair election.

He subsequently called on Nigerians to remain vigilant against what he described as potential attempts to manipulate the electoral process through vote buying, voter intimidation, violence and the compromise of electoral officials.

The campaign identified alleged vote trading, physical disruptions at polling units and attempts to influence officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as areas requiring particular attention.

It also alleged that opposition candidates and their supporters were facing intimidation and restrictions on access to public facilities, although it did not provide specific examples during the statement.

To counter these risks, the campaign said the Ballot Patriots Movement would educate voters on how to identify and report electoral malpractice.

It outlined four major responsibilities for members of the movement: peacefully monitoring polling units, documenting and reporting vote buying, establishing community-based vigilance networks, and ensuring that electoral procedures, including the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the recording and uploading of results, are observed.

The campaign stressed that the initiative would operate within the law and urged citizens to report suspected offences to appropriate authorities rather than resort to violence.

“We cannot prevent an unpopular government from attempting to rig, but we can completely frustrate their rigging machinery through absolute vigilance and collective action,” Adebayo said.

He called on youths, workers and other citizens to participate in the movement, insisting that protecting the electoral process should be a collective responsibility.

The campaign also used the occasion to promote Adebayo’s proposed four-year governance blueprint, titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, describing it as a comprehensive plan for Nigeria’s economic recovery and security.

Adebayo said the SDP candidate had presented a clearer alternative to the policies of the incumbent administration and other leading opposition contenders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

He described Adebayo as the best-prepared candidate to lead what he termed Nigeria’s revolutionary transformation, arguing that the country needed a defined governance plan rather than campaign promises.

The campaign also criticised Tinubu’s reported declaration that he would not travel around the country to campaign, interpreting it as a sign of a lack of confidence in his standing with voters.

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It further urged Nigerians to reject electoral apathy and take an active interest in the 2027 elections.

“Do not just register to vote; prepare to protect that vote,” Adebayo said.

He maintained that any attempt to undermine the outcome of the elections would be met with lawful resistance from citizens, adding that the Adebayo-Bugaje ticket should become a national platform for political and economic transformation.

The 2027 general elections are expected to provide another major test of Nigeria’s electoral institutions and the ability of political parties to compete in a credible and peaceful process.