By Golok Nanmwa,Jos
The City Boy Movement in Plateau State has set a target of mobilising over one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, as the group intensifies its grassroots campaign across the state.
Former Plateau State Governor and Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Lalong, disclosed the target when he attended the Plateau State Town Hall Meeting, inauguration and membership drive of the City Boy Movement held at Crispan Hotel, Jos.
Lalong congratulated the leadership and members of the movement for their mobilisation efforts, saying he was ready to work with the group and other stakeholders towards achieving the one-million-vote target for Tinubu in the state.
He also commended the movement for creating a platform for young Nigerians to participate in political and civic activities, describing youth participation as important to national development.
Lalong urged members of the movement to remain united, organised and focused as they expand their structure and membership across Plateau State.
He assured the leadership of his support and collaboration as the group intensifies its mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former governor also encouraged the movement to continue engaging young people across the state and creating awareness about programmes and opportunities provided by the Federal Government.
The development comes as the movement steps up its grassroots mobilisation across the 17 Local Government Areas, wards, communities and polling units of Plateau State.
Earlier, the national leadership of the City Boy Movement had paid a courtesy visit to Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, where the need for stronger grassroots engagement ahead of the 2027 elections was discussed.
The delegation was led by the Director-General of the movement, Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, and included the APC National Chairman and National Patron of the City Boy Movement, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; North Central Coordinator, Ambassador Abdul Fatah Yaya Seriki, and other national and state leaders.
Speaking during the visit, Yilwatda urged members of the movement to take their mobilisation beyond social media and establish a strong presence in communities, wards and polling units.
“Get involved. Engage the people and empower the people. That will be a major turnaround for us as a party,” he said.
“You are an anchor, you are pathfinders, you are pivotal to the votes we are going to harvest among the young people.”
Yilwatda also urged the movement to work closely with the APC structure, saying the party’s identity should remain prominent in its mobilisation activities.
“As much as you promote the City Boy Movement, I want to see the party logo on all that you are doing, more prominent, because on election day nobody sees City Boy Movement; people see the APC,” he said.
He said the movement had a responsibility to communicate the policies and programmes of the President Tinubu administration to young Nigerians and ensure that its message reached communities at the grassroots.
Responding, Governor Mutfwang described the visit as significant, saying the City Boy Movement represented a new dimension of support-group engagement, particularly in its focus on youth participation and empowerment.
The governor disclosed that he had previously engaged with Hon. Seyi Tinubu to understand the philosophy behind the movement, adding that his relationship with President Tinubu began after he assumed office in 2023.
Mutfwang said political actors seeking to engage citizens ahead of the 2027 elections must do so through direct and respectful interaction.
“If we are going to get people to get involved, it’s not going to be by showmanship. It’s not going to be by arrogance. It’s going to be by deliberate engagement,” he said.
“Don’t go where the President is popular. Go where the President is not as popular. Try to convince them to come on board. Carve a niche for yourselves.
“People want information. People want to be carried along.”
The governor advocated greater use of town-hall meetings and direct community engagement, saying citizens should have opportunities to understand government policies and ask questions.
He acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, but said the Federal Government’s reforms should be explained to citizens within the context of the economic situation inherited by the Tinubu administration.
Earlier, Shoga said the City Boy Movement was established to promote youth participation and engage Nigerians at the grassroots.
He said the movement would take the message of Renewed Hope directly to people across the 17 Local Government Areas, wards, communities and polling units while encouraging young Nigerians to participate actively in the democratic process.
“Our objective is to take the message of Renewed Hope directly to the people across the 17 Local Government Areas, wards, communities and polling units, while encouraging young Nigerians to become active participants in the democratic process,” Shoga said.
He thanked the governor for receiving the delegation and appealed for continued support as the movement builds its structure in Plateau State in collaboration with APC leadership and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, Seriki described Plateau State as an important part of his personal and political identity, noting that he was born and raised in the state.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen cooperation among stakeholders as the movement expands its grassroots structure ahead of the 2027 political season.
State Director of the movement, David Daser, said the Plateau chapter was determined to expand its grassroots structure and create what he described as a significant political record in the state.