A reported disagreement over youth mobilisation appointments within the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council has raised questions about competing interests within President Bola Tinubu’s political camp ahead of the 2027 general election.
The alleged dispute involves Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, with reports suggesting that the disagreement centres on who should lead the campaign council’s youth mobilisation directorate.
The development followed a restructuring of the APC Presidential Campaign Council announced on October 20. Under the new arrangement, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande was appointed director of youth mobilisation, while APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel was named his deputy.
The changes were announced in a statement signed by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, the council’s secretary. The council said the appointments were intended to improve coordination and strengthen its campaign structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Report Claims First Lady’s Camp Preferred Dayo Israel
According to a report by Peoples Gazette, cited by Rank News Nigeria, sources familiar with the alleged disagreement claimed that the appointment arrangement caused dissatisfaction among individuals associated with the First Lady’s camp.
The report alleged that the group preferred Israel to lead the youth mobilisation directorate rather than serve as deputy to Olawande.
Unnamed sources reportedly suggested that the disagreement was connected to perceptions of political loyalty and the influence of different support groups within the President’s campaign network.
However, the allegations have not established that the appointments were made to favour one group over another. Neither Oluremi Tinubu nor Seyi Tinubu has publicly confirmed a personal disagreement over the matter in the reports reviewed.
CityBoy and Mummy’s Men Movements in Focus
The reported disagreement has also drawn attention to two political mobilisation platforms associated with the President’s family.
The CityBoy Movement, founded by Seyi Tinubu, has been mobilising support for President Tinubu’s anticipated second-term bid, with a focus on young Nigerians.
The Mummy’s Men Movement, meanwhile, is associated with the First Lady’s political support network. Dayo Israel has been linked to the initiative as a convener and has described it as a platform for mobilising support for the President.
The report alleged that the two groups represent competing interests within the broader campaign network. However, the existence of separate mobilisation platforms does not independently establish a personal feud between the President’s wife and son.
Campaign Leadership Remains Unchanged in Announced Structure
Following the appointments, posters circulated online suggesting that Israel had been promoted to director of the youth mobilisation directorate. The reported materials added to questions surrounding his position within the campaign structure.
Israel also reportedly defended the standing of members of the APC National Working Committee in relation to serving ministers, arguing that party hierarchy places them above ministers in political ranking.
Despite the speculation, the campaign council’s announced structure identifies Olawande as director and Israel as deputy director. No confirmed reversal of the appointments was established in the reports reviewed.
As preparations for the 2027 election intensify, the reported disagreement highlights the importance of coordination among the different groups seeking to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
For now, claims of a personal rift between Oluremi Tinubu and Seyi Tinubu remain unconfirmed, while the campaign council’s announced appointments provide the clearest established account of the leadership arrangement.