The Youth Structure for Asiwaju (YS4A) has set out an ambitious and meticulously framed mobilisation roadmap for the 2027 general election, declaring its intention to galvanise six million youth votes in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The declaration was made at the group’s 2026 First Quarterly Strategic Session held at Barcelona International Hotel, Wuse II, Abuja, on Monday, under the theme, Shaping Direction. Strengthening Structure. Driving Youth Coordination Forward.
The session drew an impressive turnout of members across states and notable national officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reflecting what participants described as a growing consolidation of youth-driven political coordination within the ruling party.
Central to the deliberations was a clearly defined electoral target, one million youth votes from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, amounting to six million votes nationwide. The structure indicated that beyond President Tinubu’s re-election, the same mobilisation framework would be replicated to support APC governorship candidates and other party flagbearers across the federation.
Speaking at the gathering, the Director General of the APC Support Group Council, Hon. Sadiq Abubakar Jikta, described the initiative as a demonstration of organisational seriousness and institutional maturity within the party’s support architecture.
“Seeing APC support groups host a strategic gathering of this nature is evidence of capacity building and a clear commitment to structured political engagement. It shows the determination to work deliberately towards the re-election of Asiwaju”, he said.
On the proposed six-million-vote target, Jikta said the projection was bold but grounded in demographic realities.
“The idea of mobilising six million youth votes is commendable and remarkable. When these are aggregated with the votes to be delivered by other party structures and support groups, the pathway to 2027 becomes increasingly decisive,” Jikta stated.
He stressed that with Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million and young people constituting a significant majority of the electorate, youth-centred policy formulation was no longer optional but imperative. The DG commended the Convener for what he described as an unwavering commitment to youth development and inclusion within governance processes.
“Given that youths account for a substantial percentage of our population and voter base, their influence in shaping decision-making cannot be overstated. Youth considerations must be central to governance. I acknowledge the passion of the Convener for youth advancement and for ensuring that young Nigerians have both a place within the political system and a voice in the national economy,” he added.
In his remarks, the Convener of YS4A and National Coordinator of the structure, Dr. Michael Nwoko, situated the initiative within what he described as an already active political season. Nwoko explained that YS4A was conceived as a coordinated vehicle for youth mobilisation and engagement in alignment with President Tinubu’s governance agenda.
“Elections are approaching, and political activities are clearly underway. This structure is a political platform formally accredited by the National Secretariat of the APC. YS4A was uniquely established to mobilise and coordinate young Nigerians to key into the programmes and political direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For years, there have been legitimate concerns about youth inclusion in national affairs. Young people are not merely leaders of tomorrow, they are stakeholders in today’s national reality,” he said.
He argued that transformative change in Nigeria would remain elusive unless young Nigerians assumed active responsibility in the political space.
“Until young people recognise that this is a defining moment to demonstrate capacity and lend their voices to national renewal, meaningful change will remain constrained. Youths possess the demographic strength, energy and innovative capacity required to reposition this country.”
According to him, the marginalisation of youths in political processes historically created destabilising vacuums. Nwoko described President Tinubu as a leader with a nuanced understanding of Nigeria’s political complexity and demographic diversity.
“When young people are sidelined, a vacuum emerges, and such vacuums inevitably undermine the prospects of sustainable national progress. We are fortunate to have a President who understands the pulse of Nigerian youths, appreciates the heterogeneity of our nation and recognises the dynamics of the six geopolitical zones. He understands that the future of this country is inseparable from youth empowerment,” he noted.
Citing federal initiatives, he referenced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a targeted intervention for students in tertiary institutions, alongside agricultural and enterprise programmes designed to empower young Nigerians. He said YS4A’s mandate included amplifying awareness of such initiatives and ensuring that eligible youths were positioned to benefit.
From an operational standpoint, Dr. Michael Nwoko disclosed that the structure would be anchored on data-driven coordination. “From inception, we resolved to build a credible, data-oriented youth pool. This informed the creation of our dynamic website, ys4a.org, which integrates the INEC voter registration portal. As individuals register as members of YS4A, they are simultaneously encouraged to register as voters upon attaining the age of 18,” he explained.
Also speaking, Ambassador Mahmoud Hanga, Personal Assistant to the SA to Mr. President on Capacity Development, described YS4A as a structured movement rather than a conventional support group. He urged participants to move beyond symbolic support to strategic engagement rooted in grassroots mobilisation, digital advocacy and capacity development.
In a show of institutional backing, Hanga pledged ten youth empowerment slots to members of the structure, stating, “Together, we will build a youth platform that is organised, strategic and impactful across local governments, states and the federal level.”
The Head of ICT for YS4A, Khalifa Adebola, reinforced the emphasis on analytics and measurable outcomes. “We have set an audacious but achievable objective. One million youth supporters from each geopolitical zone. Our approach will be guided by data, demographic mapping and structured engagement. We intend to do things differently,” he said.
