A reported disagreement between Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has cast a spotlight on competing youth mobilisation networks within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The alleged rift centres on the leadership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s Youth Mobilisation Directorate and the activities of two pro-Tinubu support groups: the CityBoy Movement, associated with Seyi, and the Mummy’s Men Movement, linked to the First Lady’s political support network.
The Peoples Gazette reported the alleged disagreement, citing unnamed sources who claimed that competing interests within the president’s political circle influenced the campaign leadership arrangements. The claims have not been independently established.
Campaign Council Reshuffles Youth Leadership
The controversy intensified following changes announced by the PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council on October 20, 2026.
In a statement signed by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, the council’s secretary, Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande was named director of youth mobilisation, while APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel was appointed deputy director.
The council said the changes were intended to strengthen coordination, improve operational efficiency and build an inclusive campaign structure capable of mobilising young people and women behind President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
However, subsequent reports revealed confusion over the appointments, with Israel maintaining that his elevation to director had been announced at the council’s inaugural meeting before the arrangement was reversed.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, Israel insisted that he had not fabricated reports of his elevation, saying party officials had congratulated him following the announcement.
He also argued that his membership of the APC National Working Committee placed him above a minister in the party’s political hierarchy.
The publicly announced campaign structure, however, continued to identify Olawande as director and Israel as deputy director, leaving questions about the circumstances surrounding the reported reversal.
Sources cited by Peoples Gazette alleged that the leadership dispute reflected a broader struggle over influence within the president’s campaign organisation.
According to the report, the First Lady’s camp allegedly preferred Israel to head the directorate, while Olawande was perceived as being closer to Seyi’s CityBoy Movement.
These claims remain unverified, and no publicly confirmed statement from either Oluremi or Seyi Tinubu has established that the pair are personally at odds.
CityBoy, Mummy’s Men Fuel Speculation
The reported disagreement has also drawn attention to the growing visibility of the two political support groups preparing to mobilise voters for Tinubu’s anticipated second-term bid.
The CityBoy Movement, associated with Seyi Tinubu, has organised political activities aimed at expanding support for the president, particularly among young Nigerians.
The Mummy’s Men Movement emerged in August, when Israel announced the initiative as a platform inspired by the First Lady and dedicated to mobilising support for Tinubu’s second term.
Israel clarified that the group was not restricted to men, saying women, young people and Nigerians across different age groups were welcome to participate.
A source quoted by Peoples Gazette alleged that the initiative was partly intended to counter the influence of the CityBoy Movement.
The source further claimed that the First Lady was uncomfortable with the growing prominence of Seyi’s political network. The allegation has not been independently verified.
The existence of the two groups, however, highlights the multiple networks seeking to mobilise political support for the president ahead of the next general election.
Alleged Security Intervention at Abeokuta Event
The Peoples Gazette report also recounted an alleged incident during the commissioning of the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in August.
According to an unnamed source, the First Lady allegedly directed her security detail to contact the state director of the Department of State Services over the planned attendance of CityBoy Movement members.
The group’s supporters reportedly intended to attend the event alongside a planned inauguration of the movement’s officials in Ogun State.
The inauguration was subsequently rescheduled, according to the account.
However, the alleged intervention and the reasons for the rescheduling have not been independently confirmed. They should therefore be treated as allegations rather than established facts.
Tinubu Praises Son’s Political Network
President Tinubu’s public endorsement of the CityBoy Movement has also featured in discussions surrounding the reported rivalry.
During a meeting with members of the movement at the State House, the president praised Seyi and his associates for investing their time in building a political support network ahead of the 2027 election.
Tinubu commended the group for organising supporters without demanding official positions or titles.
He described the movement as an innovative political initiative and praised its organisers for what he characterised as an extensive membership structure.
The president’s remarks demonstrated his public support for the organisation, but they do not independently establish the reported claim that his recognition of the group caused disagreement within his family.
The wider political significance lies in the growing role of informal support movements alongside the APC’s formal campaign machinery.
Ndume, Shettima Warn of APC’s Internal Problems
The controversy comes amid warnings from senior APC figures that internal divisions could undermine the party’s chances in 2027.
Senator Ali Ndume recently argued that the ruling party’s internal disagreements and the pursuit of personal interests posed a greater threat than opposition parties.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time, the Borno South senator criticised party members who publicly profess loyalty to Tinubu but allegedly undermine his interests behind the scenes.
Ndume said the APC had a strong political platform but questioned whether those responsible for promoting it were working in the party’s collective interest.
He also backed Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s concerns about internal contradictions within the ruling party.
Shettima had warned that divisions among APC members worried him more than the strength of opposition parties.
The vice-president also cautioned against supporting Tinubu’s presidential campaign while undermining APC governors and other party candidates contesting state-level elections.
His remarks underscored the importance of coordination between the presidential campaign and the party’s wider electoral machinery.
2027 Campaign Faces Test of Unity
The reported disagreement involving Oluremi and Seyi Tinubu has not been independently confirmed, and the campaign appointments alone do not establish a personal dispute between them.
Nevertheless, the confusion surrounding the Youth Mobilisation Directorate and the emergence of multiple support networks raise questions about coordination within the APC’s campaign structure.
With preparations for the 2027 election gathering momentum, the party faces the task of aligning its formal leadership, political support groups and state-level structures behind a common strategy.
Whether the reported tensions reflect a deeper struggle for influence or competing approaches to mobilisation remains unclear.
What is established is that the APC campaign council has adjusted its leadership structure, while the reported dispute has intensified public scrutiny of the ruling party’s internal relationships ahead of a crucial election.
