A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Integrity and Rule of Law in Nigeria (Airlin), has launched a grassroots campaign across the 19 northern states to promote civic awareness, respect for the rule of law, and voter participation ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Yobe State chapter of the organisation on Sunday, Airlin’s National Chairman, Muhammad Ibrahim Gamawa, said the initiative is aimed at “re-Nigerianising Nigerians” by instilling a deeper respect for national values, legal norms, and democratic responsibilities.
Gamawa said the campaign specifically targets citizens who abstained from voting in the last general election, which saw less than 40 percent voter turnout. His team, he explained, is engaging directly with this silent majority, visiting them in their homes to encourage active participation in the democratic process.
“We are going to those who didn’t vote, not just to ask them to vote, but to educate them on their rights, how to make informed decisions, and how to choose leaders based on ideology, not money,” he said.
As part of its broader mobilisation strategy, Airlin has appointed state and local government coordinators in all local government areas of Yobe State. The group aims to mobilise at least 10 million voters from its growing membership base in the next election cycle.
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Airlin currently operates functional offices in 16 northern states, enabling it to maintain strong grassroots presence and sustain civic engagement efforts across the region.
“If you refuse to vote, you’re giving the bad eggs a chance to emerge,” Gamawa warned. “We’re telling people: don’t stay back. Come out and close the gap left during the last elections.”
He stressed that a key task for the newly inaugurated officials is to discourage vote-buying and reject financial inducement from politicians.
“Anyone who collected ₦1,000 or even ₦1 million two years ago already knows the money is gone. What is left is the broken promise and bad leadership,” he said. “We must now live by political ideology. Don’t give your vote for money, give it for policy, for vision, for something that aligns with your future.”
Gamawa emphasised that Airlin does not endorse political parties or candidates, but rather evaluates political manifestos and engages candidates with direct questions about their development plans.
“Our duty is to look beyond the noise and see who has a workable plan. We sit with these leaders and assess what they can deliver in the first 100 days. That is how we guide our members to vote consciously,” he explained.
Airlin’s core message centers on civic responsibility, respect for the rule of law, and citizen-led accountability. Gamawa underscored the importance of citizens taking the lead in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future.
“Let the rule of law live in our minds and in our actions,” he said. “It’s our job as citizens to keep Nigeria together, not just the job of the government.”
He concluded with a stern warning against vote trading, describing it as a betrayal of the nation.
“Collecting money from politicians for votes is the worst thing citizens can do to their country,” he declared.