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By Olakunle Olafioye
The Elders Senior Citizens for Tinubu 2027 Movement has announced plans to mobilise elderly Nigerians across the country to secure an estimated 24 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The Director-General of the movement, Dr. Bode Olanipekun, disclosed this on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja while responding to questions on the voting strength of senior citizens and the group’s electoral projections.
Olanipekun said senior citizens constitute a significant voting bloc capable of influencing the outcome of the 2027 presidential election. According to him, elderly Nigerians account for about 24.6 per cent of the country’s approximately 93 million registered voters.
“We are targeting about 24 million votes through intensive mobilisation across all local government areas and wards in the country,” he said.
He argued that voting patterns from previous elections indicate that senior citizens consistently contribute nearly one-quarter of the total votes cast nationwide.
Using the 2023 presidential election as an example, Olanipekun said that of the 24.9 million votes recorded, about 6.1 million were cast by elderly Nigerians. He added that the trend had remained largely consistent over the years, except during the 2019 general election, which he attributed to increased youth participation driven by social media.
The group, however, expressed concern that many senior citizens remain unaware of Federal Government programmes designed to improve their welfare.
Olanipekun said the movement would embark on a nationwide sensitisation campaign to educate elderly Nigerians on government policies affecting them and encourage their active participation in the electoral process. He expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s re-election would ensure the institutionalisation of reforms being implemented through the National Senior Citizens Centre, making them sustainable beyond the current administration.
“Tinubu’s re-election would guarantee the institutionalisation of programmes and policies aimed at improving the welfare of older Nigerians. When we re-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President, this is our goal and this is our mandate,” he said.
The movement also commended the Tinubu administration for strengthening the National Senior Citizens Centre, describing the initiative as a demonstration of renewed commitment to ensuring that elderly Nigerians age with dignity.
It further praised ongoing pension reforms, efforts to expand retirement welfare and measures aimed at improving the financial security of pensioners.The group equally welcomed initiatives to improve healthcare services for older Nigerians through specialised geriatric care, preventive healthcare, wellness programmes and age-friendly medical services.
It also expressed support for plans to establish modern elderly care centres and geriatric homes where necessary, while encouraging community-based care systems that preserve family values and protect the dignity of older persons. The movement lauded the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for promoting gardening, subsistence farming and environmentally friendly activities among senior citizens, saying the initiatives would improve food security, provide additional sources of income and encourage healthy living among the elderly.
