A political support group, Renewed Hope for the Elderly, has launched a nationwide mobilisation campaign aimed at securing 24 million votes for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
The group said it plans to rally elderly Nigerians by promoting the administration's policies and programmes targeted at senior citizens.
Speaking during the inauguration of the movement in Abuja, the Director-General of Renewed Hope for the Elderly, Dr. Bode Olaonipekun, said the initiative seeks to advance the welfare, dignity and political participation of older Nigerians while supporting President Tinubu's second-term ambition.
Olaonipekun said many elderly Nigerians have faced years of neglect, poor healthcare, inadequate social welfare and economic hardship after retirement despite their contributions to national development.
"Our elderly men and women are the foundation upon which this nation stands. A nation that fails to honour its elderly gradually weakens its own moral foundation," he said.
He commended the Tinubu administration for strengthening the National Senior Citizens Centre, expressing confidence that ongoing reforms would improve pension administration, healthcare services and the welfare of retirees.
According to him, the group also supports plans to expand access to geriatric healthcare, establish elderly support centres, strengthen community-based care systems, and improve financial inclusion and digital literacy among senior citizens.
Olaonipekun also praised First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for initiatives promoting gardening, subsistence farming and environmentally friendly activities among senior citizens. He said the programmes encourage active ageing, improve food security, and enhance the physical and mental well-being of older Nigerians.
