Politics

Can Seyi Tinubu’s Igbo powerbrokers turn the southeast against Peter Obi in 2027?

Published

6 hours ago

November 9, 2026

When Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, launched the City Boy Movement in 2022, his target was the young voters who formed the backbone of opposition leader Peter Obi’s Obidient Movement.

Now, with the 2027 election approaching, the movement is taking the fight to Obi’s southeast stronghold, where Obi won nearly 88% of the vote in 2023, compared with Tinubu’s 5.7%. To narrow that gap, the City Boy Movement has spent the past year building a grassroots network across the region’s five states, organising empowerment programmes and distributing cash, food and other materials.

Under the banner of “the politics of building bridges”, the movement has recruited wealthy businessmen, influential politicians and former Obi supporters to help challenge his dominance in the region.

Who are the men helping the president’s son challenge Obi on his home turf?

The billionaire businessmen

The movement’s strategy hinges partly on businessmen whose wealth, celebrity status and social networks could help it reach young voters and other constituencies.

Obi Cubana

Entrepreneur

Billionaire nightlife entrepreneur Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, is the movement’s southeast coordinator. His appointment is both symbolic and strategic: he hails from Anambra State, Obi’s home state, and supported the opposition candidate in 2023.

Cubana’s rags-to-riches story and celebrity status appeal to young Nigerians. Since accepting the appointment in February 2026, he has helped recruit fellow wealthy businessmen and overseen empowerment programmes across the region.

Cubana Chief Priest

Imo State director

Cletus Uzoezie Oragwa

Head of Zenco Group of Companies

Christian Okonkwo

Chief executive of C-Energy Oil and Gas Limited

Stanley Ifeanyi Uzochukwu

Chairman of Stanel Group

Lucky Ndidiamaka Oha

Chief executive of Ohams Divine Company Limited

The state directors

The movement’s state directors coordinate its grassroots structures, extending its reach into local government areas and communities.

Mayor Lucky Igbokwe

Abia State director

Popularly known as Don Lulu, Igbokwe directs the movement in Abia, deputised by Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka. They lead an 11-member state executive supported by coordinators across the state’s 17 local government areas.

Igbokwe chairs Don Media Group and was a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

Ituma Chukwuemaka Enviable

Ebonyi State director, Enviable Group founder

Nonso Ozoemena

Anambra State director

Prince Emeka Mamah

Enugu State director, chief executive of Ifesinachi Motors

The patrons

The movement has also enlisted established political figures and public officials as patrons, adding political connections and public visibility to its grassroots network.

Mike Okiro

Former Inspector-General of Police

Okiro, a retired inspector-general of police from Imo State, publicly endorsed the movement in August by hoisting its flag at its Abia headquarters.

“I urge members of this movement to work collectively and use their democratic rights to support President Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 general elections,” he said.