2027 is a movement beyond parties; Nigerians must keep sentiments aside – ADP presidential candidate

Aliyu Bin Abbas, 44, is a Nigerian political strategist and the consensus presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) for the 2027 general election. In this interview with AKOMBO AONDONA and GIFT WADA, he spoke about his journey from an Almajiri in Kano to a presidential candidate, his vision for Nigeria, youth participation in politics, his relationship with Atiku, the 2027 election and the need for Nigerians to rise above tribal and religious sentiments. Abbas, a former political aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisted that governance should be about service, not sharing the “national cake.” Excerpts:

Campaigns are expected to begin soon, precisely on August 19. Your emergence as the ADP consensus candidate has been described as a “miracle.” What strategic shifts within the ADP made this breakthrough possible ahead of the campaign?

The party is what I refer to as the “tsunami in the making.” You asked me about strategy, but unfortunately, I think I will run away from giving you a direct answer because, as you mentioned, the campaign will begin on August 19 or 18, while our presidential campaign council has not yet been established. I am not the director of the campaign, so we have to wait. We are going to have a very serious campaign team because it is all about Nigeria.

For the first time, we want to focus and concentrate on the country called Nigeria. We are tired of these recycled old politicians who keep recycling themselves every four years. We want to have very deep thinking and critical analysis about this country.

The 2027 presidential campaign is going to be something different. The strategy is also going to be something very unique, something Nigerians have never seen before.

As we have always said, the speed of the world today is higher than the speed of these ageing politicians. The speed is too high, and they may not be able to withstand it. But we are not coming to fight them. We are coming as a solution because it is long overdue. Nigeria needs to be transformed. Nigeria needs to be taken first.

We say Nigeria first before anything else. The campaign strategy is going to be very unique. One important thing is that young people and women will be directly involved. It is going to be a campaign for, and by, young people and women. By the time you bring young people and women together, definitely, the outcome will be something great.

As soon as we establish our campaign council, our strategies, manifesto, blueprint and everything else will be clearly presented. But I don’t want to run faster than my shadow and go against some of the principles or norms of INEC or even my political party. So, I suggest we keep quiet for now. By the time we establish our campaign council, the strategy will be out for everybody to know.

You have described your journey from being an Almajiri to studying globally. How will your personal story shape the policies of your administration, if you win?

It may interest you to know that I have never contested even for councillorship, not to talk of the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate or governorship. I did not just wake up one day and say I wanted to run for president of this country.

I think this is because of my background. I came from an extremely poor background and suffered a lot in life before I could even go to school.

I remember telling my father that I wanted to go to school. I was lucky because my father sponsored my primary education. But after primary school, there was nothing for me to continue my education with.

I was passionate about education, just as I love my country passionately. I had no option but to leave my parents. I am from Borno State, precisely Southern Borno. I travelled to Kano at night. I knew nobody there. I went there as an Almajiri — the usual Almajiri experience from northern Nigeria. I became an Almajiri. We begged for food, read the Qur’an and did all sorts of things. I was a complete street boy. As time went on, I started looking for money so I could return to school. I was telling my vice-presidential candidate this story today.

I later became a “mai shayi,” selling tea on the streets of Kano. After two or three years, the government of the day embarked on an expansion project that affected my business, so I had to quit.

I later became a shoe shiner for years. I quit that and ventured into nail cutting. I was cutting people’s nails. The last business I did was working as a conductor. I became a conductor, saved some money and eventually went back to school.

Ordinarily, I should not have passed through those experiences because my country is blessed with natural resources. Nigeria is one of the richest countries, not only in Africa but in the entire world. So, I believe education was my constitutional right, and government should have been able to provide it. But I survived by the grace of God.

I knew many young people with whom I started that journey. Some died along the way. Some became drug addicts because there was no guidance, no parents and nobody to help them. But, to the glory of God, I survived. Sometimes I engage myself in question-and-answer sessions about Nigeria. I believe that God Almighty strategically placed Nigeria as the heart and soul of the entire black race — not just Africa, but the entire black race. Wise people always say that whenever Nigeria gets it right, the entire African continent and the black race will get it right. Unfortunately, we have continued to produce leaders who cannot effectively manage the affairs of our country. They concentrate on their personal and selfish interests. I think they don’t have Nigeria at heart.

That is why we began to think critically about what we could do differently. I worked closely with His Excellency, the former Vice President. I don’t want to mention his name because I am no longer there and I am no longer a believer in his political ideology.

Remember, our slogan is “Building a New Nigeria.” We want to build a new Nigeria where every citizen will feel that there is a new man in charge.

However, a lot of people started talking and asking questions. Some called me depressed. Some said I was mad. Some said I didn’t know what I was doing by running for president.

But I strongly believe that power and authority belong to God Almighty. They are not in the hands of anybody. They are in the hands of God.

We don’t have the resources. We don’t have the power. We don’t have the military, police or judiciary. We don’t have the structures that the existing politicians have.

But we are leveraging the power and strength of God Almighty because power belongs to Him. I believe that with that conviction, things are already beginning to work.

Let me give you an example. When I left Atiku Abubakar in 2023, I intentionally refused to join the APC. I am not against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President, as a person. I am not against Atiku Abubakar as a person. I am not against Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai or Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as individuals. I am against the system.

The system has been favouring nobody. So, if we truly believe in this country, we have to change the entire system. I don’t believe any of those people I mentioned has a plan that can fundamentally change the country. They want to continue with the existing system. You call it the status quo, right?

In the next 10, 15 or 20 years, you may look for many of these politicians and may not find them. What happens to Nigeria tomorrow? They don’t seem to care enough.

Whenever there is an opportunity, the first people that come to their minds are their relatives and those close to them. They don’t care enough about the village boys or the street boys.

There are a lot of things happening that I believe we have to go back to the drawing board and address.

Let’s remember that Nigerian leaders in the past sacrificed their lives and time to build this country. Today, nobody is talking enough about the development of Nigeria. I understand that many politicians are involved in competition. Someone becomes governor, and I say I must become minister. Someone becomes minister, and I say I must become governor. Someone becomes president, and I say I must become president — without a clear plan.

Nigeria is bleeding. Nigeria is collapsing. Nigeria is disintegrating. We must not forget the sacrifices of our founding fathers.

People call me names and say I am mad or that I don’t know what I am doing. But I believe in what I am doing.

You previously attempted to register another political movement. What happened?

We tried our best to register our movement, which we called the United Nations Alliance and Separatist Party, but our constitutional rights were denied by INEC. We nearly lost hope. I called my team members. There were 9 of us. Five were Christians and four were Muslims. I said, “Okay, I think we have to embark on fasting and prayers for seven days for God to give us direction.”

I didn’t want to lose hope in this country.

Our initial hope was that INEC would register our association as a political party so that we could participate in the 2027 elections. But that did not happen. After our prayers, we moved on and joined the Action Democratic Party. At that time, I didn’t know anybody in the ADP. Nobody knew me in the party. The only person I knew was the National Chairman Yabagi Sani Yusuf, because we had once invited him to one of our programmes in Kano.

I joined the Action Democratic Party on May 5 this year, and I emerged as the presidential candidate of the party on May 31 — just 26 days later. Against all odds. Thank God you were there. You saw what happened that day. But you saw only what happened on that day. You did not see what happened before or after. That is why I speak with confidence.

My life, my death, my health, my work — everything is in the hands of God Almighty. If God can stand by us, give us victory during the primary election and give us victory again, then we are grateful. Our name is already on the INEC portal, and we are set for the 2027 presidential race.

What qualifies you to become President of Nigeria?

My experience. I have worked with potential presidents, former presidents and former vice presidents. I have gathered a lot of experience.

One of the things I have learnt is that in Africa, not only in Nigeria, when your opponents begin to understand your good intentions, they may try to use those intentions against you. That is why I believe this election is going to be different. We are not looking up to anybody. We are looking up to God. It is not necessary for us to follow the same path that previous politicians have followed. Do we have billions of naira to sponsor our campaign? Why did I choose my vice-presidential candidate from a poor but humble background? We have a lot of big people who have called me and pledged to sponsor my presidential campaign, but I cannot agree to their terms. That is the beginning of the problem.

If you give me billions of naira to support my campaign and then give me conditions, that means I am not serving my country. I will be serving you. So let us leave the pocket politicians aside. It is not our strength. It is not our power. It is not our knowledge. It is not our money.

Many Nigerians are losing interest in voting. Some have completely lost their appetite for participating in elections. What is your message to them?

That is why I say we have to speak to the inner minds of Nigerians.

You were a close political aide to Atiku Abubakar until you emerged as the ADP presidential candidate. Critics say you are simply holding the seat warm for him. How do you convince Nigerians that your candidacy is authentic and not a placeholder script written by Atiku?

I really don’t want to go too deep into that because I am very direct and open. Whenever I speak, I speak with confidence. I speak as if God sent me directly to come and salvage this country. So, I don’t give a damn about what anybody says.

But I know the truth, and the God we serve knows the truth. Of course, I served Atiku for almost 14 years. I am the kind of person who cannot come out and deceive people because I hate being deceived, and I will never deceive you. But you can ask people in our party what happened before and after I emerged as the presidential candidate. I don’t want it to come from me. I want it to come from some of the people who participated in the battle. That battle was beyond what many people imagined. I know they will be shocked and surprised. How did our name even appear on the ballot? If I were a placeholder for somebody, I would have signed the voluntary withdrawal form that I was allegedly being pressured to sign. But I declined.

So, when the time comes for me to speak, I will speak.

In the first three days after assuming office as President of Nigeria, what are the first three executive orders you would sign to address the economic hardship Nigerians are facing?

When the time comes, Nigerians will see it. For now, the only thing I can say is that when I was working with one of my former principals, I had very serious conversations with my team members. Some are in Nigeria and some are in the diaspora. Is it even necessary for me to reveal the details? I think it is part of my strategy. It is something I will use, so I don’t think it is important to mention it now.

But all I want to say is that Nigerians will produce a President they have never produced before.

Look at people like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello. These were people who tried their best to build Nigeria and secure independence. They wrote their names in gold. That is why their names will not be forgotten in the history of this country. By the time we emerge as President of Nigeria, within the first six months of our administration, Nigerians will feel that, yes, we truly have a country called Nigeria. It will be a shocker to everybody. And it will not be us alone doing it. It is God Almighty. It is the power of God.

Nigeria is facing serious regional and political polarisation. How will your campaign bridge the widening geopolitical and ethnic gaps between the North and South?

Nigeria has never been divided in its history the way it is today. We have a lot of strategies. When we sat down and critically examined how our policies should look, we studied former presidents — both those who are alive and those who are no longer with us. I looked at former President Musa Yar’Adua. I will take his seven-point agenda and adopt it, but I am going to add one more point to make it eight — national unity. That’s all.

If you want to know more about our policies, go and read the seven-point agenda of Musa Yar’Adua and then add national unity. It may sound crazy or stupid to some people, but it is reality. We need continuity. We will continue from where some leaders stopped. We can do this for our country.

There are widespread security challenges, particularly in Borno, Benue and other parts of the country. What structural security reforms do you propose to restore public safety?

Insecurity is not only in Borno State. We have a very good strategy that we are going to apply within the first six months of our administration, by the grace of God. We should be able to tackle it. It will cost us a lot. I am not talking about the monetary aspect. It will cost us many things. It may even cost some lives. The policies we are going to introduce will be firm. Anybody who tries to sabotage them, whoever that person may be, will not be tolerated. I may have come from a very poor background, but God Almighty raised me from the lowest point to where I am today. There must be a purpose for that. I have some things to put in place. It is a divine responsibility, so I have to do it. Nobody can take me back to my mother’s womb. I can only be stopped if God permits it. So, by the time we emerge as the democratically elected President of this great country, Nigeria, we will tackle insecurity.

Can I say it? Yes, I will. Since God Almighty has chosen us, we are on the ballot.

Since you don’t want to reveal some of your strategic campaign plans, what should Nigerians expect?

I have been told that you journalists are part of our problem in this country. If I mention something small now, you will go and coin it into something big. You begin to do what the Nigerian economy does — take it this way and take it in another direction — instead of going straight to the point.

So, you people are actually playing a role in bringing us backwards. I think it is time the media understood that Nigeria is our country and we don’t have another country like this. We have to serve this country. The country has served us for over 60 years. Let’s serve the country now. Wherever you are and whatever work you are doing, let part of your responsibility be to serve your country. Always go in the right direction. I understand that, but I am talking about the media in general. Stop all this propaganda. If media personnel are given money and they know something is black, they paint it white and begin to prove that it is white. Let’s work for this country so that all of us will be happy.

I was there on the day you emerged as the ADP presidential candidate, including the crisis of interest surrounding your emergence. How do you plan to unite the ADP ahead of the campaigns, particularly with those who contested against you?

Who are the people who contested with me? There were three people who contested. One has gone back to where he came from. He was sent to deny some people the ADP presidential ticket and, after succeeding, he went back to the party he belonged to. The other has also gone to run for president under another party.

So, nobody?

You can ask both of them to provide their receipts for payment of the nomination forms. What are we talking about? You know. And that is why I say there are things that should not come from me as a leader. Whenever people begin to think about age, previous experience and qualifications — “You are not this, you are not that, so you cannot become this” — that is a big mistake. Leadership is given by God. God cannot come down directly to rule nations. That is why, throughout history, prophets were sent by God Almighty. So, when people remain rigid and continue to fight because they cannot accept the outcome, they are making a mistake. They are not fighting us. They are fighting God. I don’t want to mention their names, but if you know, you know. We have tried everything within our power. We have reached out to them, but it seems their doors are not open. If their doors are not open, we cannot force them open.

But anytime they say, “Okay, we now agree that God has chosen you. Despite your age, despite the fact that you have never been a councillor, senator or held any other elective office, let’s come together, build our party and save Nigeria,” I will be glad.

Everything will go well. But even if they don’t, I believe you were part of the process from day one and you know what transpired before my emergence as the ADP presidential candidate. Against all odds, God decided to choose me among a few people.

If they don’t agree, they are not fighting us. They are fighting God. We will leave them with God.

This 2027 election is not going to be about political parties. It is a movement. It is about Nigeria. That is why I want to use this opportunity, as the “poor boy” from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, to urge Nigerians that if they truly believe in this country, they should keep sentiments and differences aside. Keep tribal and religious considerations aside.

Let’s concentrate on the country called Nigeria, at least for once. This is my message to all Nigerians. If not, all of us will cry. We are already crying. We will cry more.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan recently promised that every lawful vote will count in 2027. Some opposition figures have dismissed such assurances as “lip service.” Do you personally have confidence in his leadership?

With what we saw on August 1, when the first INEC list of candidates was released, my name was even second on the list. Against all odds, some people went the extra mile to prevent INEC from publishing my name. The reason is best known to them. But whatever their plans are, whoever they may be, even when we are not at INEC, the God we serve is always there. God is always ahead of them.

With what we saw on August 1, we are confident and optimistic that INEC will continue to do the right thing. Our name is already there on the ballot.

Let me tell you, we are not desperate. We are not saying we must be President of Nigeria. If eventually something happens and our name is withdrawn, that means God did not approve that we should not become President of Nigeria. We are not desperate and we are not fighting anybody. We believe strongly in God. Maybe it is not the best thing for me to be President. Maybe that is what God has chosen for me and my vice president. So, we are not fighting these people. Even information we receive about plans to do this or that does not bother me. We can only succeed with the permission of God Almighty. God created us. Whether we like it or not, we will die one day. When you die, people may eventually forget everything you have done in this world. There will be a day of judgment when God Almighty will ask you about your deeds. So, we are not desperate to rule Nigeria. We are not fighting anybody. We are just trying. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I look at myself and ask, “What is this? Who is pushing me? Where am I getting this strength from?” Sometimes an inspiration just comes to me, almost like a prophecy, and I go and do it. Later, I ask someone else, “How did I even do this?”

That shows that God’s hand is definitely in what we are doing. Otherwise, who are we to be presidential candidates at this age? I am not trying to preach violence or anything like that. But it is time.

I have said it: it is my turn now as a youth to be the next President of Nigeria. Please, our fathers, come and hold our hands, even if you want to continue.

We will not be voted into office to enjoy the comfort, eat the national cake or travel abroad. We have chosen to serve. We were elected to serve. We will be in the Villa to serve. It is high time we faced reality, no matter how bitter or difficult it may be. Let’s save this country.

You have spoken about the need for a generational transition in leadership. What exactly do you mean?

You just came to my office, right? I accepted you, and we started this interview. After some time, you might turn around and say, “How can we move you out of your office? How can we push ourselves in front of you and take ownership of your office?”

Maybe you use all kinds of techniques to take over my position. This is exactly what is happening with Nigeria’s leadership. It is our country, but we are not in charge. For instance, imagine that this is my phone, and then somebody else has to tell me how to operate my own phone. Nigeria is in a very deep situation that not every politician can come out and talk about openly. But at the appropriate time, we will tell Nigerians. I am calling on Nigerian youths and women. Our government will not be for youths alone. It will be for everybody. But young people and women have to fight for their future so that Nigeria will continue to remain one indivisible country — the giant of Africa that we used to know.

If you are a young person and you say, “You must give me money before I vote for you,” you are selling your right. If I give you money, it means I have bought your right. By the time I get into office, I may have spent trillions or billions of naira. How do I recover my money? I will not care about you.

You don’t know how I got the money. Maybe I went to the bank and collected loans that I now have to repay. But if you say, “This is a vibrant young person like us. He understands us. Let’s support him,” that is different. We have social media, and it works. If you go on TikTok and say, “Hey, my candidate is very young,” before you know it, people will begin asking, “Who is this guy?” They will start calling you. But perhaps you may not do it because I don’t have money to pay you. Yes. With God, all things are possible because God controls the hearts of human beings wherever they are. Even if you don’t believe it now, as time goes on, God can change hearts. These things will happen in the next two or three months of our administration.

Even you who interviewed me today will be surprised. You will ask, “Is this the same person I interviewed in his office?” It is long overdue.

Like I said, we are not fighting our elders. We are not fighting them. We are trying to provide a safe landing for Nigeria’s prosperity. But if they say they are going to deploy all their strength to crush their children, it doesn’t make sense. If you crush your children today, in a few years, who will bury you? Who will take care of you in old age? This is very serious. You cannot crush your children. They represent the future of your country.

Unless perhaps you are an agent of darkness or have been deployed to scatter your country. Of course, it will not work.