Supporters of former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have formally unveiled a new grassroots political movement in Abuja, aiming to counter urban-centric political narratives and build a strong rural and community-level base ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, named the Village Boys Movement, was officially launched on Thursday, February 19, 2026, during a well-attended event at a venue in the nation’s capital. Organisers positioned the movement as a deliberate counterweight to the City Boys Movement—a loosely organised network of young, urban influencers and social media personalities closely associated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and promoted by his son, Seyi Tinubu.
The Village Boys Movement is described by its leaders as a non-partisan but pro-Obi grassroots mobilisation platform focused on organising supporters at the community and village level, particularly in rural areas across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Its stated mission is to promote accountability, ethical leadership, productivity, fiscal responsibility, and transparent governance—values that align closely with Peter Obi’s public messaging during and after the 2023 presidential campaign.
Speaking at the launch, the convener of the movement, Maazị Tochukwu Ezeoke, introduced himself as the “Village Headmaster” and emphasised that the group represents “a Nigeria that works before it earns and earns before it spends.” Ezeoke clarified that the movement is not geographically exclusionary and does not seek to attack urban populations or city dwellers.
“The issue is not geography but the source of wealth, the ethics of leadership, and the structure of accountability,” he said. “The Village Boys Movement is symbolic rather than geographical. It is about values—honesty, productivity, discipline, responsibility, and transparent leadership. We are offering a moral alternative in Nigeria’s political space.”
Ezeoke urged young Nigerians, especially those in rural and semi-urban communities, to join the campaign for political reform. He stressed that the movement aims to build a disciplined, value-driven support base capable of sustaining long-term political engagement beyond the 2027 election cycle.
The launch event attracted hundreds of attendees, including youth leaders, community organisers, civil society activists, and supporters of Peter Obi from various parts of the country. Speakers highlighted the movement’s focus on grassroots education, voter mobilisation, community development advocacy, and the promotion of Obi’s governance philosophy of frugality, transparency, and investment in human capital.
The emergence of the Village Boys Movement comes amid ongoing political realignments in Nigeria following the 2023 presidential election, in which Peter Obi finished third nationally but secured strong support in the South-East, South-South, and parts of the North-Central and North-West regions. Obi has remained politically active, frequently addressing national issues through public lectures, social media, and policy interventions, while refusing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other major party.
The City Boys Movement, by contrast, has been widely perceived as a loosely coordinated online and offline network of young, urban, and social-media-savvy supporters of President Tinubu. It has been credited with helping to shape public perception of the administration among younger voters and urban middle-class demographics.
Political analysts view the launch of the Village Boys Movement as an attempt to reclaim narrative space for Obi’s supporters, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where turnout is often decisive in Nigerian elections. The movement’s emphasis on discipline, accountability, and ethical leadership mirrors Obi’s campaign messaging of “from consumption to production” and his criticism of wasteful governance.
While the group has not formally registered as a political party or support group under the Electoral Act, organisers say it will operate as a civil society and mobilisation platform. They have called on Obi’s supporters nationwide to form local chapters and engage in community-level advocacy, voter education, and support for candidates aligned with Obi’s vision in future elections.
The launch has already generated significant buzz on social media, with the hashtag #VillageBoys trending among Obi supporters and political commentators. Critics of the movement have questioned its organisational capacity and funding sources, while supporters praise it as a much-needed counter-narrative to urban-dominated political messaging.
As Nigeria approaches the mid-point of President Tinubu’s first term and preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, the Village Boys Movement represents one of the earliest organised efforts to mobilise grassroots support around Peter Obi’s political brand. Whether it can translate online enthusiasm and symbolic messaging into a sustained, nationwide structure capable of influencing electoral outcomes remains to be seen.
The group has promised to hold a series of town hall meetings, community outreaches, and policy discussions in the coming months to build momentum and expand its reach beyond the initial launch in Abuja.
