Special Reports

Tinubu Support Group Dismisses Rift, Targets 2.5 Million Votes For 2027

LAGOS – A pro-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu support group, LikeMinds Volunteers for Tinubu, has reaffirmed its commitment to securing the president’s re-election in the 2027 general elections, insisting that a recent disclaimer issued by the Ogun State chapter of the CityBoy Movement will not derail its nationwide mobilisation campaign.

The group said it remained committed to collaborating with genuine pro-Tinubu organisations across the country but stressed that its grassroots mobilisation drive would continue independently if formal partnerships fail to materialise.

In a statement signed by its Director General, Temidayo Babalola, the organisation said it had already established structures in 35 states and built a network of more than one million direct and indirect volunteers, positioning itself to play a significant role in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s electoral campaign.

The clarification follows a public disclaimer issued by the Ogun State chapter of the CityBoy Movement distancing itself from LikeMinds Volunteers, despite ongoing discussions between the two organisations at the national level.

According to the group, its National Coordinator, Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, led a delegation that met officials of the CityBoy Movement’s national headquarters, including Director General Francis Tosin Shoga and other senior executives, to explore areas of collaboration in support of President Tinubu’s second-term bid.

LikeMinds Volunteers said it subsequently submitted a formal proposal for collaboration, which it said was acknowledged by the CityBoy Movement’s national leadership. Discussions reportedly included plans to unveil the CityBoy LikeMinds Volunteers mobile application at the movement’s headquarters and the possible integration of mobilisation data from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen grassroots campaign efforts.

The organisation described the Ogun chapter’s disclaimer as surprising, noting that it had followed the recognised registration process for support groups before engaging the movement’s national leadership.

It also defended its use of the term “CityBoy” in its name, arguing that the expression has become widely recognised as a political identity associated with President Tinubu, alongside other popular appellations such as “PBAT,” “Asiwaju,” “Jagaban” and “Akanbi Omo Olododo.”

The group maintained that the adoption of the name was intended solely to demonstrate support for the president and was never designed to misrepresent or undermine any organisation.

LikeMinds Volunteers further referenced the public support shown by Seyi Tinubu for initiatives promoting his father’s re-election, describing such inclusiveness as essential to expanding grassroots political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Central to the organisation’s campaign is its “ONE-OF-TEN Initiative,” a mobilisation strategy aimed at delivering 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu by encouraging each volunteer to recruit at least 10 eligible voters within their communities and polling units.

The group said its leadership includes former members of the National Assembly and experienced grassroots political organisers with networks spanning Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, enabling it to execute its voter mobilisation strategy nationwide.

Reaffirming its commitment to the APC’s electoral success, LikeMinds Volunteers said its support for President Tinubu was not dependent on any single political organisation.

It added that while it remained open to future collaboration with the CityBoy Movement and other pro-Tinubu groups, it was fully prepared to pursue its campaign independently through its existing structures, volunteer base and technology-driven mobilisation strategy.

The organisation called on supporters of President Tinubu and other grassroots political groups to remain focused on what it described as the broader objective of securing victory for the president and APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

 

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