“Is Nigerian politics all about a particular family affair? ”
By Saidu Abubakar
The 2027 Presidential Campaign of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, may suffer a major setback as Northern Mobilizers have described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name as “Political Poison” to the abandoned and marginalised region under APC. The name may have been “barred” in the region, during any of the APC 2027 Presidential Election Campaign rallies. The Mobilizers allegedly pleads with campaigners not to make mention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu anywhere in the region during their campaign rallies, if they want to return home safely.
However, findings have revealed that most APC Mobilizers in the North, have cautioned party members against mentioning President Tinubu’s name during their campaign rallies.
“All we want you to say is ‘from top to bottom is APC’ — and don’t dare mention Tinubu’s name. Otherwise whatever happens, you are on your own. If you mention Tinubu’s name and they beat you, don’t blame me, I warned you.”
That was an APC mobilizer in North in a training session for door-to-door campaigners — clip posted on Peoples Gazette, Osun Defender, Nairaland since Saturday morning.
The shocking directive was said to have been given during a strategic meeting of the Mobilizers and Grassroots Coordinators, drawn from across the 19 Northern States.
According to competent sources familiar with development and who were present at the meeting, the Mobilizers warned that mentioning President Tinubu’s name in rural communities, could trigger anger and rejection, due to the prevailing insecurity, economic hardship and hunger ravaging the region.
A Source who pleaded anonymity disclosed: “The instruction is clear. If you want to campaign and return home safely, do not mention Tinubu’s name in the villages. The people are not happy. Focus on local candidates only.”
Political Analysts say that the directive confirms reports that several Northern APC State Governors are reluctant to openly campaign for President Tinubu in the region. Billboards of the President are seen in city centres, but are conspicuously absent in remote villages and rural communities where the bulk of the votes are.
The APC North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Movement had earlier admitted that there were unhealthy campaigns against the President’s re-election bid.
In another development, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and son, Seyi Tinubu, are reportedly locked in a relatively” “quiet” power struggle within President Bola Tinubu’s camp.
The alleged dispute centres on control of youth mobilisation wing for the president’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Aside from the youth mobilisation directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, the activities of two political support groups associated with the president’s family are in the centre of the controversy.
The two groups are the CityBoy Movement, founded by Seyi, and the Mummy’s Men Movement, launched by supporters of the First Lady.
Tension became more pronounced following changes to the leadership structure of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, with competing interests allegedly emerging over who should lead its youth mobilisation efforts.
Only recently, the campaign council announced adjustments to its leadership structure, including the creation of a directorate for stage organisation and management and changes to the leadership of the youth mobilisation directorate.
In a statement purportedly issued by Imo State Governor and Council Secretary, Hope Uzodinma, the council appointed Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande as Director of Youth Mobilisation and APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel as his Deputy.
However, a source familiar with the alleged disagreement claimed that the arrangement displeased the First Lady, who reportedly preferred Israel to head the directorate.
The source alleged that Olawande was viewed by the First Lady’s camp as being aligned with Seyi and his CityBoy Movement, which has been mobilising young people in support of President Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
According to the source, efforts to elevate Israel to the position of director were partly motivated by a desire to limit Seyi’s growing influence within the president’s campaign structure.
Following the announcement of the campaign council’s appointments, AI-generated posters congratulating Israel on his purported promotion from deputy director to director of the Presidential Campaign Council’s youth directorate circulated online.
Israel shared the posters on his X account, making comments about his position within the party’s leadership structure.
Responding to questions about whether he could rank above Olawande, a serving minister, Israel argued that his position as a member of the APC’s National Working Committee placed him above the minister in the party’s hierarchy.
“In political ranking, a National Working Committee member is senior to a minister or equivalent,” he said.
The reported disagreement also extends to the activities of the CityBoy Movement and the Mummy’s Men Movement.
In August, Israel announced the group on Facebook, describing it as a movement inspired by the First Lady and intended to mobilise support for President Tinubu.
“This is Mummy’s Men’s Movement. Inspired by First Lady, Mrs Tinubu — Our Mummy,” he wrote.
He also clarified that the movement was open to women, young people and Nigerians across different age groups.
The gist: Inside Tinubu home there are two youth machines – 1. CityBoy Movement — owned by Seyi Tinubu; 2. Mummy’s Men Movement — supporters of First Lady Remi Tinubu. Both are fighting for who controls the Youth Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council — and, of course, the big budget for “Data Boys, Media War, Ronu”.
What triggered it Uzodinma (PCC Secretary) announcement of restructuring which Seyi’s camp was happy with — Olawande being seen as Seyi’s guy, loyal to CityBoy. Remi’s camp vexed as she reportedly wanted her own Pastor, Dayo Israel (RCCG, her “son in the Lord”, Adeboye is “Father in the Lord”) to be Director, not deputy. Dayo ran to Remi to complain saying: Seyi wants to collect “milk and honey from his mouth”.
In some quarters, Remi Tinubu is being referred to as “de facto president” while Seyi is referred to as “baby in the game, trying to extend CityBoy structure.” It’s vividly politics + religion + family feud over who controls youth votes for 2027. A reliable source said an undisclosed budget for youth mobilization is huge — “na why fight dey hot”.
Although neither Remi nor Seyi publicly confirmed the fight — Presidency sources said it’s normal reshufflement that took place.
The President himself has reportedly tried to calm nerves last weekend at the CityBoy inauguration: “People called me asking what Seyi is running for, I told them he’s running after his father. He didn’t ask for title or office.” He praised both groups for their efforts.
