Minister Mariya Mahmud Announces Tinubu's Continuation as APC Candidate and Highlights City Boy Movement's Youth‑Focused Campaign

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmud, affirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain an APC candidate, while the newly formed City Boy Movement is gearing up to mobilise Nigeria's youth and women in preparation for the 2027 general election. The announcement underscores the administration's achievements, including upgrades in the Federal Capital Territory and an expanded education loan programme, and highlights the movement's target of 10 million members through grassroots engagement. In a stirring address in Kano on Monday, Mariya Mahmud, Nigeria's Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, delivered what many observers are calling a decisive endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's political future. Speaking at the launch ceremony of the City Boy Movement, a newly formed political support group designed to galvanise youth and women across the country, Mahmud declared that Tinubu would remain in office as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the full duration of his tenure and that he would hand the presidential baton to another member of the same party when the time comes. The minister's speech reverberated through the gathered supporters, underscoring a confident belief that the administration's performance would ultimately count for itself when Nigerians return to the polls. Mahmud's remarks focused on several of the current administration's achievements. She highlighted the progress made within the Federal Capital Territory, a region she has overseen, and the expansion of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund - NELFUND - which provides critical financing to eligible students aiming to continue their studies in the country. These projects, she said, reflect the broader agenda of the Tinubu government, which she insists deserves additional time to demonstrate tangible results for ordinary Nigerians. In a gesture that hints at a broader political strategy, Mahmud also explained that the City Boy Movement would play an essential role in conveying the administration's policies to communities nationwide, with a particular emphasis on reaching the country's large youth demographic. The City Boy Movement, founded on the principle of "renewed Hope," seeks to bring together young Nigerians and women under a unified political platform. Its aim is to build a grassroots network that can mobilise support for the APC ahead of the 2027 general election. The group's leadership, notably its Director‑General Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, has stated that the organisation intends to amass 10 million members, a figure deemed crucial for influencing national policy outcomes. Shoga urged participants to conduct face‑to‑face outreach in schools, markets, universities and other community hubs, stressing that social media alone would not suffice to build the necessary grassroots momentum. During the national retreat in Abuja last July, the City Boy Movement laid out its strategic blueprint. Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appeared at the event, urging members to deliver government policies with integrity and stay connected to the everyday realities of Nigerians affected by the administration's reforms. New leaders such as Nasir Bala Ja'oJi, a candidate for the APC House of Representatives seat in Tarauni Constituency, also emphasised the importance of structured leadership at the local government level. At the retreat, Ja'oJi reported that 189,111 individuals had already registered under the movement in Kano, a figure he used to illustrate the momentum and sturdy foundation that the city has built. The movement's progress has attracted support from senior figures within the administration and from members of Tinubu's core political circle. Muhammad Jamo Yusuf, a member of the CBM National Working Committee, praised the mobilisation efforts and pointed to the president's economic reforms, including the liberalisation of the oil sector, as evidence that continuity is essential. While Mahmud's statement signals a clear intent to keep Tinubu's influence in the political sphere for an extended period, it also hints at the APC's broader strategy: building a robust, disciplined grassroots infrastructure that can steer national politics. By leveraging the energy of young people and women, the City Boy Movement seeks to energise the electorate and secure a political climate that favours the party's continued dominance. With the 2027 general election fast approaching, the group's campaign efforts are set to intensify, as they mobilise support across Nigeria's diverse communities and aim to strengthen the APC's position on the national stage. In sum, the minister's declaration represents a decisive step in the APC's political calculus, underscoring confidence in Tinubu's tenure, reinforcing the role of the City Boy Movement, and highlighting the importance of youth mobilisation and grassroots engagement in Nigeria's dynamic political landscape. The province's active support for a continuation of the present government signals a commitment to what many see as a hopeful future, and the movement's continued bet on the power of democratic social engagement may well shape the next chapter of Nigerian politics.