Northern youth groups have called on elders and political leaders from the region serving in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene over what they described as the alleged marginalisation and exclusion of Arewa youths from political and government-related opportunities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The demand was made at a joint stakeholders’ meeting involving leaders of the Northern Youth Solidarity for Good Governance, Arewa Youth Assembly and Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum.
The meeting followed allegations by some northern youth leaders that Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, was allegedly influencing youth-related appointments and political mobilisation structures in ways they claimed disadvantaged northern youths.
However, the allegations were made by the youth groups at the meeting and were not independently established.
President of the Arewa Youth Assembly, Amb. Abdul Garba Danbature, urged the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum to establish a high-powered consultation committee to engage northern elders and political leaders in the Tinubu administration.
He listed Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and Minister of Defence Christopher Musa among those he said should be approached to help address the concerns.
Danbature said the alleged exclusion of northern youths from decision-making structures could have implications for the political future of the region.
Similarly, Secretary-General of the Arewa Youth Solidarity for Good Governance, Hon. Iliya Baban Yawo, criticised an alleged proposal by Seyi Tinubu to recognise only two youth movements for the APC’s 2027 mobilisation activities.
He identified the groups as the City Boy Movement and the Relax, Tinubu is Fixing Nigeria Movement, alleging that both were dominated by Yoruba associates of the President’s son.
Baban Yawo said the development could affect efforts to secure northern youths’ support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He also backed a directive by the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum for northern youths to withdraw from appointments and partnerships with the two groups, arguing that northern support organisations should have independent structures and equal opportunities.
According to him, his organisation has been advocating for greater representation of northern youths in the Federal Government for more than a year.
Baban Yawo further alleged that Seyi Tinubu had influenced appointments and leadership positions in some youth-related organisations. He cited the Ministry of Youth Development, student affairs structures, the APC youth leadership and the National Youth Council of Nigeria.
He called on President Tinubu to address what he described as tribalism and discrimination, warning that youths constitute a significant voting bloc ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also alleged that some northern youths associated with the City Boy Movement faced discriminatory treatment, describing the structure of the organisation as allegedly dominated by Yoruba-speaking members.
Responding, the leadership of the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum said northern youth organisations needed to unite and address their concerns collectively.
The Forum’s representative, Hon. Haruna Sardauna, directed its Organising Secretary, Hon. Bello Shehu Funtua, to establish a high-powered engagement committee to consult northern elders and political stakeholders.
Sardauna said the Forum had received reports from APC support groups in the North-Central and was collecting similar information from the North-East and North-West.
He said northern support groups should operate independently and would not be encouraged to liaise with the City Boy Movement or other southern-led support organisations in their mobilisation activities for the 2027 elections.
He said the Forum’s objective was to promote equal representation, fairness and inclusion for northern youths in political and governmental affairs.
The groups urged northern elders and leaders in the Tinubu administration to urgently engage with the youths, warning that resolving the concerns would strengthen political participation, regional unity and support for the democratic process.