City Boy Movement credits Kano street walk for Kaduna rally turnout

The City Boy Movement says the large youth turnout at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday 24 October was partly the result of its grassroots work, including a street walk in Kano. Director-General Francis Shoga made the claim in a statement on Sunday 25 October, Vanguard, Leadership and Arise reported.

“The City Boy Movement was proudly on the ground, engaging with young Nigerians and grassroots supporters,” Shoga said. He said the turnout in Kaduna and the walk in Kano showed that young Nigerians want to be part of a national conversation about development and opportunity.

Shoga said the movement's work goes beyond winning votes and includes explaining government policies to young people. He pointed to the 81-kilometre section of the Abuja–Kaduna highway commissioned at the flag-off, and said the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano corridor could help farmers, traders, transport operators and young entrepreneurs.

He said the movement would step up its grassroots work across the country before the 2027 election and encourage peaceful participation.

The movement gave no turnout figures, and its claim that it helped bring out the crowd has not been independently checked. It is not the only group claiming credit: a coalition of northern youth groups credited the mobilisation work of the campaign council's Director-General, Abdul'aziz Yari, Punch reported. Seyi Tinubu is the movement's patron.

Pidgin: City Boy Movement talk say di plenty young people wey show for APC presidential campaign flag-off for Kaduna on Saturday 24 October, part of am na because of dia grassroots work, including one street walk for Kano. Di Director-General, Francis Shoga, talk am for statement on Sunday 25 October.

How this affects you: Young voters across the country should expect more of the movement's street walks and outreach as the campaign moves on from Kaduna. Claims about who brought the crowd come from the campaign side and have not been independently verified.

More on the movement: City Boy Movement: what it is, who leads it and latest news