Seyi Tinubu And The City Boy Movement Storm Imo State With Empowerment Items As Woman Promises Her Family's Votes For President Tinubu
The son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Barrister Seyi Tinubu, made a high-profile visit to Imo State on Friday, March 13, 2026, as part of the ongoing Renewed Hope City Boy Tour — and the reception he received was nothing short of dramatic. Thousands of youths lined the streets of Owerri to welcome him, empowerment items were distributed, courtesy calls were paid to Governor Hope Uzodimma at Government House, and at least one woman was captured on camera making a passionate declaration of political loyalty that has since sparked a wave of reactions across Nigerian social media.
"God will bless you, Tinubu. I will vote for you. My children and my family will vote for you," the woman said, visibly moved after receiving empowerment items distributed by Seyi Tinubu and the City Boy Movement during the visit. Her words quickly went viral, dividing Nigerians between those who celebrated the gesture and those who questioned the deeper intentions behind the political outreach.
What Is The City Boy Movement And Why Is It In Imo State?
The City Boy Movement is a pro-Tinubu youth mobilisation group of which Seyi Tinubu serves as Grand Patron. The movement was established with a stated mission of engaging young Nigerians in support of President Bola Tinubu's administration and his anticipated 2027 re-election campaign. Over the past several months, the movement has been steadily expanding its footprint across Nigeria, appointing state and zonal coordinators, acquiring campaign-branded buses, and rolling out a series of empowerment programmes targeting youth and vulnerable communities across different geopolitical zones.
The decision to focus on the South-East — beginning with Imo State — is a calculated political move. The region has historically been one of the most resistant to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In the 2023 presidential election, the South-East overwhelmingly backed Labour Party's Peter Obi, a native of Anambra State. Winning even a portion of South-East youth support ahead of 2027 would be considered a significant political achievement for the Tinubu camp. The Imo visit, therefore, carries strategic weight far beyond what a single rally or empowerment programme might suggest.
The Imo Visit — What Happened On March 13 And 14, 2026
Seyi Tinubu arrived in Owerri on Friday, March 13, 2026, accompanied by notable figures including socialite and businessman Obi Cubana, who was recently announced as the South-East Director of the City Boy Movement, and Cubana Chiefpriest, who was named the Imo State lead of the movement. Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, was also part of the delegation.
Videos that quickly went viral on social media showed a massive crowd of young people dressed in City Boy-branded attire chanting Seyi Tinubu's name and surrounding his convoy as it arrived in Owerri. The atmosphere was described as festive and energetic, with supporters expressing visible enthusiasm for the movement's arrival in the Southeast.
One of the most notable moments of the visit was a clip showing Seyi Tinubu, Obi Cubana, Cubana Chiefpriest, and allies enthusiastically singing President Tinubu's 2023 campaign song, "On Your Mandate We Shall Stand," inside the Government House — a clear signal of loyalty to the president and confidence in the mission of the tour.
The delegation also paid a formal courtesy visit to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma at Government House, Owerri. During the meeting, Governor Uzodimma praised President Tinubu's economic reforms, saying that despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Nigerian naira had remained stable at N1,240 against the US dollar — a feat he attributed directly to the subsidy removal policy of the current administration. He described the City Boy Movement's visit as a "homecoming" and promised full support for the youth movement.
7,000 Youths Set To Benefit From Empowerment Programme
Beyond the fanfare and political statements, the City Boy Movement made concrete promises during the Imo visit. The Director-General of the movement, Mr Francis Shoga, disclosed during a courtesy call on Imo Deputy Governor, Mrs Chinyere Ekomaru, that the movement's Renewed Hope Tour in the state was aimed at empowering 7,000 Nigerian youths. He described the initiative as a bridge between the Federal Government and ordinary citizens, saying the engagement was designed to help Nigerians better understand the development strides being made by President Tinubu's APC-led administration.
"We are here to commence the empowerment of 7,000 Nigerian youths. This engagement will help them understand what is happening at the center led by the APC government," Shoga said. He added that the movement was working with South-East leaders to mobilise 10 million votes for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The empowerment distribution on Saturday, March 14, 2026 — the second day of the visit — was where the now-viral woman's declaration was captured. As items were being distributed to beneficiaries in the crowd, the woman, overwhelmed with gratitude, looked directly into the camera and declared her family's unwavering support for President Tinubu — a moment that quickly spread across WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook, generating thousands of reactions.
Governor Uzodimma's Endorsement And What He Said
Governor Hope Uzodimma did not shy away from throwing his full weight behind the City Boy Movement's mission in Imo State. Addressing the delegation at Government House, the governor described the initiative as representing a "new mentality" aimed at preparing young Nigerians for leadership roles. He specifically commended the movement for their charitable work visiting hospitals and providing support to sick and vulnerable individuals during their tour.
Uzodimma highlighted what he described as significant infrastructure improvements and political stability in the South-East region under the current federal administration. He urged the City Boy Movement delegation to serve as "Renewed Hope" ambassadors in every grassroots and urban centre across the zone, ensuring that Tinubu's achievements reach every Nigerian.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande also commended Governor Uzodimma during the visit, seeking his continued support for youth initiatives that align with the movement's goals and the broader Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu administration.
Ohanaeze Youth Council Boycotts The Rally
Not everyone in Imo State and the South-East was celebrating. The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) Worldwide issued a statement on March 13, 2026 — the same day Seyi Tinubu arrived — rejecting an invitation to attend the City Boy Movement rally and warning Igbo youths against participating. The statement was jointly signed by the OYC's National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, and Secretary-General, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke.
According to the council, the decision was reached after an emergency National Executive Council meeting convened following receipt of an official invitation to the rally. The OYC described the rally as "an affront to the sensibilities of Igbo youths," linking their opposition to the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government. The group urged Igbo youths and lovers of freedom to boycott the event and even called on residents to consider closing markets, shops, and transport services during the period of the rally as a mark of protest.
Despite the boycott call, the rally reportedly went ahead, drawing a significant crowd of youth supporters who showed up in branded attire and participated in the empowerment distribution exercise.
The City Boy Strategy In The South-East — Can Money Win Hearts?
Political analysts have been watching the City Boy Movement's South-East push with keen interest. The movement's strategy is built on three pillars: celebrity influence, financial empowerment, and grassroots mobilisation. By appointing prominent South-East businessmen like Obi Cubana and Cubana Chiefpriest to lead the regional structure, the movement has been able to leverage existing fan bases and social capital to attract large crowds.
However, observers point out that this kind of approach has clear limitations. The South-East has a deeply emotional and identity-driven attachment to Peter Obi, who remains a dominant figure among young voters in the zone. For many Obidient supporters, political loyalty to Peter Obi is not transactional — it is ideological, tied to a desire for genuine change rather than empowerment items.
A counter-movement known as the Village Boy Movement has also emerged in Abuja, positioning itself as the organic, grassroots alternative to what it describes as elite-driven, money-powered politics. The group's convener, Tochukwu Ezeoke, describes the movement as standing for accountability and a Nigeria that "works before it earns."
Whether the City Boy Movement can convert empowerment distribution into actual votes in 2027 remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the Tinubu camp is not waiting for election season to begin its campaign in the South-East. The Imo visit is a signal that 2027 has, for all practical purposes, already started.
Context: City Boy Movement's Recent Nationwide Activities
The Imo visit is the latest in a series of high-profile activities by the City Boy Movement across Nigeria. In February 2026, Seyi Tinubu, as Grand Patron of the movement, launched a nationwide distribution of fasting relief packages across all 36 states of Nigeria to support vulnerable households during the holy seasons of Ramadan and Lent. The initiative was described by the movement's Director-General as a demonstration of unity, generosity, and national cohesion.
Earlier in October 2025, the movement organised a prayer session and empowerment programme in Lagos to mark Seyi Tinubu's 40th birthday, during which 3,000 Lagosians received cash grants of N50,000 each. These activities, while branded as charitable and philanthropic, have not been without criticism — with many Nigerians questioning whether they represent genuine social welfare or thinly veiled political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
Regardless of the political debate, the City Boy Movement continues to expand, with new state coordinators, campaign buses, and empowerment programmes being unveiled at regular intervals. The Imo State visit, with its viral moments, political endorsements, and empowerment distributions, may well become one of the most talked-about episodes of the movement's ongoing national tour.
Reactions From Nigerians
The video of the woman pledging her family's votes after receiving empowerment items has generated thousands of reactions online. Supporters of the Tinubu administration praised the empowerment gesture, saying it proved the government was reaching ordinary Nigerians. Critics, however, argued that the viral clip was a textbook example of vote-buying disguised as charity, with many questioning the long-term impact of distributing items on the lives of ordinary people compared to addressing deeper structural economic issues.
One social media user wrote: "As sad as this sounds, 90% of the people who criticise these guys would jump on the chance to be there, given the opportunity." Another questioned the composition of the crowd, asking where the market women, okada riders, and building labourers were — arguing that those present were primarily those already aligned with the APC, not the truly poor masses.
Whatever side of the debate one falls on, the Imo visit has firmly put the City Boy Movement and Seyi Tinubu back in the national conversation — and with the 2027 elections inching closer, that may have been the point all along.
Pidgin Section: Wetin Happen For Imo State As Seyi Tinubu Come With City Boy Movement?
So e don happen again o! Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, carry im City Boy Movement go Imo State on Friday March 13, 2026 — and the reception wey dem give am? E hot die! Thousands of young people wey wear City Boy branded cloth come out dey chant im name for Owerri. Na real owambe moment for real!
But the thing wey scatter social media pass everything na one mama wey dem give empowerment items during the distribution. The woman look camera, she talk am from heart: "God will bless you, Tinubu. I will vote for you. My children and my family will vote for you." E be like serious declaration of war o — war of loyalty! Nigerians don dey argue am since.
As e be, the City Boy Movement say dem wan empower 7,000 youths for Imo State. Governor Hope Uzodimma welcome dem with open hands, praise President Tinubu say im reforms help make naira stable for N1,240. Meanwhile Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) boycott the rally, say it dey "disrespect Igbo youths" — especially because Nnamdi Kanu still dey detention.
Obi Cubana and Cubana Chiefpriest also come along — dem be City Boy Movement South-East Director and Imo State lead respectively. Dem even sing Tinubu's 2023 campaign song "On Your Mandate We Shall Stand" inside Government House — na serious show of loyalty!
The big question now na whether City Boy Movement with all im items and celebrities fit change the South-East political game before 2027. Because na the same South-East wey vote Peter Obi enter 2023, and Obidient movement no be beans. But one thing sure — this 2027 campaign don start long time ago. Whether you like am or you no like am, the City Boys have entered the chat!
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Sources: Vanguard, Legit.ng, ThisDay, Vanguard