Personal Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs (Northeast), Office of the Vice President, Comrade Mohammed Mahmud
Personal Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs (Northeast), Office of the Vice President, Comrade Mohammed Mahmud, has called on youths and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to actively participate in the ongoing APC e-registration exercise across Borno State, other states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Mahmud, who is also the Borno State Director of the City Boy Movement, said the digital registration process represents a new phase of democratic participation that places political power directly in the hands of young Nigerians determined to shape their future.
He made the call on Wednesday in Maiduguri while addressing youth groups and associations largely made up of APC loyalists at a sensitisation meeting themed: “Building a Stronger APC Through Digital Membership and Inclusive Participation.”
According to him, enrolling in the e-registration exercise is not just a party activity but a statement of commitment to inclusive democracy and youth participation.
*‘Our Voices Must Be Counted’*
Addressing the gathering, Mahmud said the City Boy Movement has continued to project the progressive identity of Nigerian youths committed to good governance.
He said: “Today, we take another step toward ensuring that our voices are not just heard but counted in the political processes that determine our collective destiny.
“The Nigeria we are building under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and here in Borno State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is one to be proud of.
“The numbers tell a compelling story of transformation. The World Bank, just this January 13, 2026, upgraded Nigeria’s growth forecast to 4.4% which is significantly higher than the global average of 2.6%.
“This is not politics; it is international validation of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s economic reforms. Our foreign exchange reserves have surged to $45.01 billion, up from the $34-35 billion range we struggled with previously. Daily foreign exchange turnover has tripled from $150 million to over $430 million, bringing stability to our markets and confidence to investors.
“Perhaps most impressively, inflation—the enemy of every Nigerian household—has been tamed. After peaking in 2024, it averaged 21.26% in 2025 and is projected to drop to 12.94% in 2026. This means your naira will buy more, prices will stabilise, and economic planning becomes possible again.”
Mahmud explained that the gains recorded so far were not accidental but the outcome of tough economic decisions taken by President Tinubu’s administration.
*Northeast, Shettima and Regional Transformation*
Continuing, he said: “The Central Bank of Nigeria and the World Bank didn’t upgrade Nigeria’s outlook because of promises—they upgraded it because of performance.
“For those of us in the Northeast, having Vice President Kashim Shettima at the nation’s second-highest office represents unprecedented opportunity. The Vice President understands our region because he comes from here, governed here, and transformed Borno State during his tenure as governor from 2011 to 2019. Under his current leadership, coordinating federal interventions in the Northeast, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation.
“The North East Development Commission has executed over 700 projects across our region—mega schools, hospitals, roads, mass housing, skills training centres, and infrastructure that seemed impossible during the crisis years.
“The NELFUND initiative alone has disbursed over ₦77 billion to more than 396,000 students nationwide, with substantial numbers from the Northeast benefiting from interest-free education loans. This is the kind of transformative policy that changes generational stories.”
He also praised Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for what he described as responsive and accountable leadership in Borno State.
“Here in Borno State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has set standards for responsive, accountable, and transformative governance. The recent local government elections that concluded peacefully across all 27 LGAs demonstrate the security gains achieved through strategic cooperation between Governor Zulum and Vice President Shettima. Just a few years ago, conducting elections across Borno seemed impossible.
“Today, it’s not just possible but peaceful, credible, and inclusive. Governor Zulum’s commitment to transparent primaries, youth participation, and democratic processes has restored public confidence in governance. The infrastructure development visible across Maiduguri and Borno State—reconstructed schools, rehabilitated hospitals, improved road networks, revitalised markets—these are not just construction projects but symbols of our state’s resurrection from crisis to prosperity.”
*Why APC E-Registration Matter*
Mahmud stressed that the ongoing APC e-registration exercise is critical to sustaining the gains recorded nationally and regionally.
He said: “Against this backdrop of national economic recovery and regional transformation, the APC e-registration exercise becomes critically important. Democracy is not a spectator sport. The progress we celebrate today was achieved because people participated; they voted, they engaged, they held leaders accountable.
“The e-registration system modernizes our democratic participation in several crucial ways. First, it ensures accuracy and transparency. Digital registration eliminates the manipulation, ghost members, and inflated figures that plagued manual registration systems.
“Every registered member is a real person with a verifiable identity. Second, it empowers youth participation. Young people own the internet. An online registration system speaks our language, operates on our platforms, and removes bureaucratic barriers that traditionally discouraged youth political engagement. Third, it strengthens internal democracy. Fourth, it prepares us for 2027. The recent Borno local government elections were described by Governor Zulum as a ‘litmus test’ for 2027. Strong party membership registration now positions us to mobilize effectively when the time comes.”
Clarifying the process, Mahmud said: “Let me be very clear about what you need to do. The requirements are simple: your NIN (National Identification Number) and your Voter’s Card. That’s it. No complicated procedures, no expensive fees, no bureaucratic hurdles. The registration process is straightforward: Visit the APC e-registration centre with your National Identification Number (NIN) and Voter’s card, agents are ready to support at all the times.
“For those who need assistance, we will have support personnel available during this sensitisation period to guide you through the process. Nobody should be left behind because of technical challenges. As members of the City Boy Movement under the grand patronage of Barrister Seyi Tinubu, we carry special responsibility. We represent the progressive, educated, and digitally-savvy face of Nigerian youth. If we cannot successfully execute e-registration, how can we claim to be ready for leadership roles in governance?”
He warned that the 2027 general elections would determine whether current reforms are sustained or disrupted.
“The economic reforms showing results now need more time to fully mature. The infrastructure projects underway need completion. The youth empowerment programmes need sustainability. I want every young person in this hall to understand something fundamental: politics is not a dirty game when good people participate. Politics is simply how we collectively decide who gets what, when, and how in our society.
“I urge everyone here to complete your e-registration before you leave this sensitization period. Bring your friends, your classmates, your colleagues. Make this movement’s registration drive the most successful youth political mobilisation.”
Dignitaries at the event included the General Manager of RUWASSA, Engr. Muhammad Musa Aliyu; Chairmen of Kaga and Guzamala Local Government Areas, Hon. Zannah Lawn Ajimi and Hon. Umar Lawan Sheriff; Senior Special Assistants to Governor Zulum, Hon. Dogo M. Shettima and Hon. Baby Abba Gumsu, as well as board members of the Borno State Housing Corporation, among others.
