Seyi Tinubu’s rumoured 2027 Governorship bid has sparked tension within Lagos APC and GAC.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the rumours of a possible 2027 governorship bid by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have reportedly sparked tension within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its powerful Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
At just 39, Seyi Tinubu is being touted by several youth groups and diaspora platforms as the next-generation leader for Nigeria’s commercial capital. Endorsements from groups such as the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, The Future Platform, and Nigerian communities abroad have fueled speculation of an imminent entry into the political ring.
Though he has not made any formal declaration, sources quoted by Daily Post suggest that behind-the-scenes lobbying for his candidacy is already in motion. If he eventually emerges, Seyi Tinubu would be the youngest person to govern Lagos since its creation in 1967 surpassing the current record held by Babatunde Fashola, who assumed office at age 43.
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However, the development is far from universally welcomed. The GAC, a 30 member elite political body founded by President Tinubu during his governorship in 1999 is said to be divided over the implications of Seyi’s potential candidacy. The council, chaired by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, includes former governors, deputies, speakers, senators, and senior political figures who have historically influenced key decisions in Lagos politics.
The GAC’s influence is longstanding; it played decisive roles in the emergence of former Governors Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Yet, the possibility of a presidential son stepping into the Lagos governorship frame has sparked internal debate over merit, political dynasty, and zoning.
According to Daily Post, critics within the party view the move as premature and potentially damaging, particularly given Seyi Tinubu’s limited public sector experience. His primary business role as CEO of Loatsad Promomedia, an advertising firm, is seen by some as insufficient preparation for the complexities of governing a state of over 20 million people.
“It would feel like dictatorship, not democracy,” one APC chieftain from Oshodi-Isolo reportedly said, describing the idea as “political arrogance.” The source warned that such a move could alienate voters, especially with the 2023 presidential election outcome in Lagos still fresh, President Tinubu lost the state to Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
On the flip side, supporters of Seyi Tinubu point to global political dynasties as precedent. One party loyalist, Laken Agbaje, cited the United States’ Bush family and the Philippines’ Marcos family as examples of legitimate political succession. “Seyi is a Nigerian with full political rights. If the people support him and the party clears him, why not?” Agbaje said.
Some of Seyi’s allies have begun quietly positioning themselves for strategic roles in the upcoming Lagos local government elections, a development that has raised concerns of undue influence and elite control over grassroots politics.
Beyond internal politics, questions of equity and zoning have resurfaced. Lagos is administratively divided into five districts Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe (IBILE). All four governors since 1999, including Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode, and Sanwo-Olu, have hailed from Lagos Island or Epe. This leaves districts like Ikorodu and Badagry without top-level representation.
A push for zoning fairness is gaining traction within the APC, with growing support for leaders from underrepresented districts. Daily Post revealed that some party factions are quietly backing Babajimi Benson, who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, as a potential candidate for governor.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s silence on the matter has created unease within party ranks. “The GAC and key APC stakeholders are increasingly anxious,” one top party insider told Daily Post. “Without clear direction from the president, the party risks fragmentation.”
For now, the party continues to tread carefully, awaiting clarity on whether Seyi Tinubu will indeed enter the 2027 race and if the APC’s leadership is prepared to rally behind his candidacy or seek an alternative that preserves unity across the state.
