2027: Let's be strategic in our mobilisation, Presidential aspirant warns opposition

......cautions against public protests

 

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Mr. Jide Filani, has called for renewed commitment to active political participation and visionary leadership in the country, declaring that Nigeria’s democratic future cannot be secured through protests alone, but through strategic engagement in the electoral process.

Filani spoke during a familiarization visit to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ogun State chapter, in Abeokuta, where he interfaced with party chairmen and stakeholders as part of consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the council, Filani lamented what he described as persistent voter apathy, noting that less than 30 per cent of eligible Nigerians participate in elections.

“I believe the Electoral Bill is not the main thing right now. Politics is about numbers. A lot of people are not participating in elections. If governance is not going well, the strategy is to remove such leaders through the ballot in 2027,” he said.

Filani argued that while legislative reforms, including amendments to the Electoral Act, are important, the greater challenge lies in mobilising citizens to take ownership of the democratic process.

He dismissed what he termed “noise around reforms and protests,” insisting that sustainable change would come through organised civic engagement and strategic voting rather than demonstrations.

According to him, with Nigeria’s population approaching 300 million, low voter turnout remains one of the country’s most underestimated democratic challenges.

Speaking on the insecurity in the country, Filani decried weak border management, revealing that Nigeria has over 1,000 border routes stretching about 1,800 kilometres.

“Despite these vast entry points, insecurity persists due to weak border management and insufficient strategic deployment of security infrastructure,” he said.

“There is a need for extension of security architecture to all border areas, including improved surveillance, intelligence gathering and proactive measures to address both external and internal threats.

“Security must be strengthened at all our borders. We must address other insecurity risks within the country as well.”

On food insecurity, Filani described the nation’s hunger situation as unacceptable, citing Nigeria’s estimated 84 million hectares of arable land.

“We have no reason to be hungry in Nigeria. If we invest in iron and steel, we can produce farm implements locally and mechanise agriculture. When you invest in production and processing, you solve hunger and create jobs.”

He maintained that deliberate investment in agriculture and local manufacturing would not only guarantee food security but also stimulate employment and industrial growth.

The YPP aspirant further stressed that leadership must be driven by vision and integrity rather than personal gain, warning against mismanagement of public funds.

Filani urged political parties, civil society organisations and institutions to intensify grassroots mobilisation, civic education and youth inclusion, emphasising that participation, not passivity remains the cornerstone of democratic accountability.