The race toward Nigeria’s 2027 general elections has already begun in earnest. The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has handed its ticket to incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate, while the major opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), continues consultations over who will carry its banner. Familiar political heavyweights in the ADC, such as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, are positioning themselves to slug it out with the president if they scale the hurdle.
Already, movements are forming while narratives are also crystallising. Across Nigeria, citizen-driven political movements are increasingly shaping how communities engage power. The contest, it appears, will not merely be about parties — it will be about identity, loyalty and competing visions of Nigeria’s future. It is similar to what happened during the 2015 presidential election when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wanted to remain in power, but the APC came with its ‘Change’ slogan and dislodged the behemoth that had boasted to rule Nigeria for 60 years.
The president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has kickstarted the “City Boy Movement”. This group, energised by the president’s allies and supported by prominent figures in business and youth circles, is grounded in interest-based politics. Its core argument is that in Nigeria’s political economy, development flows more consistently to regions that strategically engage the centre of power, negotiate inclusion, and align private enterprise with public policy. It also believes that President Tinubu’s reforms have yielded positive gains and should be sustained. Prominent members of this group include businessman Obi Cubana, celebrity barman, Cubana Chief Priest and Cletus Uzoezie Oragwa (Zenco).
On the other hand, supporters of Peter Obi, popularly called Obidients, and the broader opposition have rallied under the “Village Boys” banner, with a message rooted in grassroots mobilisation and civic awakening. On their website, their motto is ‘Unbought, Unafraid, Unstoppable’. They encouraged Nigerians to join the grassroots revolution transforming Nigerian communities through education, empowerment, and unity. According to them, “We are the voice of the village, the strength of the people.”
The symbolism is powerful. City versus Village. Establishment versus grassroots. Continuity versus change.
But beneath the slogans and branding lies a fundamental democratic truth: 2027 is about choice. I have always advocated an opposition that can match any ruling party in all ramifications, be it in campaign, strategy, logistics, mobilisation, etc. Thuggery should not be encouraged, but if any party decided to use thugs such as NURTW members, the opposition party should also match them in kind, as no one has a monopoly on violence. It is called the ‘were la fi n wo were approach’.
Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the message is clear. If you don’t want to join the Village Boys movement, you are free to pitch your tent with the City Boys movement. You can persuade but cannot foist your belief or candidate on another person. If anyone believes President Tinubu has done enough to merit a second term, it is that person’s choice, and it must be respected. Also, if anyone believes that Tinubu’s performance has been abysmal and he should be voted out, that choice must also be respected. That is what true democracy is all about.
Democracy thrives when citizens are free to assess leadership based on their lived experiences. For some Nigerians, recent economic reforms may represent bold reforms that should be sustained. For instance, investors who benefited from current stock market growth or policy shifts such as tax reform may argue that continuity ensures stability and may want President Tinubu to continue. For others, rising costs of living, unemployment, or insecurity may overshadow macroeconomic indicators. A farmer battling rural banditry or a trader struggling with inflation might reach a very different conclusion about the state of the nation and may prefer a change in leadership. His choice must be respected.
Neither perspective is illegitimate. Democracy is built on the understanding that reality is experienced differently across regions, classes and sectors.
That is why political competition is not only inevitable—it is necessary. An opposition that is organised, strategic and capable of matching the ruling party in mobilisation, messaging and policy articulation strengthens democracy. Vibrant political engagement compels accountability. It forces incumbents to defend their records and challengers to present credible alternatives.
Something interesting happened last week. A social media commentator, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, urged Nigerians, especially South-Easterners, to boycott the businesses of Obi Cubana and others who endorsed the City Boys Movement and are campaigning for Tinubu to return for a second term. However, Iwuchukwu’s post was countered by Charles Ogbu, another social media commentator who accused him of bias. He noted that Iwuchukwu is always singing the praises of Tony Elumelu, who is also an ally of the president. He noted that after the 2023 presidential election, Elumelu congratulated Tinubu, describing him as ‘last man standing’. He asked the question, ‘Why can’t you also ask Nigerians to also boycott Elumelu’s businesses, especially his bank, for supporting the president?’. Many of the commentators aligned with Ogbu’s position.
The message is clear – nobody should be criticised or pilloried for their choice on who they want to govern them. It is one of the fundamental principles of democracy. A Yoruba wise saying goes thus ‘Ohun to koju senikan, ehin lo ko si elomiran’. It literally means ‘What faces someone, backs another person’.
If a voter believes the current administration deserves a second term, that conviction should be expressed at the ballot box. If another believes change is necessary, that view should also be channelled peacefully through democratic means. Mutual respect for differing political choices is not weakness; it is the bedrock of democratic governance. So, whether you belong to City Boys or Village Boys, the choice is entirely yours. Participate in the process and don’t stand aloof. Franklin D. Roosevelt says ‘the greatest threat to democracy is indifference’. A Nigeria that works for all is a collective responsibility. We can make it happen in our lifetime.
Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of the Daily Independent, writes from Abuja. He can be reached at shabydayo@gmail.com
