By Paul Joseph
N-Power beneficiaries have endorsed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election and withdrawn their support for President Bola Tinubu, citing years of hardship and unpaid stipends under the Federal Government’s social intervention programme.
The beneficiaries announced their decision after meeting with Atiku at his Asokoro residence in Abuja on Saturday.
According to the group, the endorsement followed nearly three days of consultations and engagements with relevant stakeholders in the nation’s capital.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the beneficiaries said they had resolved to back Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the 2027 election.
“After almost three days in Abuja filled with extensive consultations and relevant stakeholder engagements, this afternoon, we finally endorsed the candidacy of His Excellency, Waziri Atiku Abubakar, as our preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election,” the group said.
The group said its decision was influenced by what it described as the Federal Government’s reluctance to listen to their concerns, particularly their complaints over outstanding N-Power stipends.
The beneficiaries alleged that years of delayed or unpaid stipends had subjected many participants to prolonged financial hardship, despite the programme being introduced to provide young Nigerians with employment opportunities, skills and financial support.
They also expressed dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration, arguing that their concerns had not received the attention they expected from the government.
The group said its experience had contributed to its decision to withdraw support for Tinubu and back an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The beneficiaries subsequently called on their members and other Nigerians to support Atiku’s candidacy, expressing hope that his emergence would bring renewed attention to youth empowerment, job creation and social intervention programmes.
“Together, let’s make Nigeria great again,” the group said.
The endorsement comes amid increasing political realignments and consultations ahead of the 2027 general election, with various interest groups and political actors beginning to declare their preferred candidates.
N-Power was introduced as part of the Federal Government’s social investment initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment, providing skills acquisition and creating economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
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