Abuja — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to put aside ethnic and regional sentiments when voting in the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a gathering of political stakeholders in Abuja, Atiku warned that Nigeria cannot afford to repeat past mistakes of electing leaders based on tribe, religion, or sectional interest.

He urged citizens to focus on competence, integrity, and capacity to deliver good governance as the key criteria for choosing leaders. “This country belongs to all of us. If we allow narrow sentiments to dictate our choices, then we are simply postponing the progress we deserve,” Atiku said.

The former vice president also stressed that democracy can only survive when citizens exercise their franchise responsibly, adding that the failure to do so risks deepening division and underdevelopment. His remarks come at a time when political alignments and realignments are gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 polls