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Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is rumored to be interested in becoming governor, which is causing tensions to rise within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its powerful Governance Advisory Council (GAC).

Many young people and diaspora organizations believe that Seyi Tinubu, who is only 39 years old, would be the best person to head Lagos State in the future.

His support from The Future Platform, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, and several Nigerian communities overseas has sparked rumors that he would soon run for governor.

Insiders claim that lobbying for his candidacy is already well underway, despite the fact that he has not yet made a formal announcement.

Seyi Tinubu, 39, would become the youngest governor of Lagos State since its founding in 1967 if he were elected in 2027.

Babatunde Fashola currently holds the record after becoming governor at the age of 43 in 2007.

However, the development has put the party and its leadership in a challenging position rather than being warmly received.

The possibility of Seyi becoming the APC’s governorship flag candidate is said to have caused division within the GAC, a 30-member political body that President Tinubu himself established while he was governor in 1999.

With 30 members, including past governors, former deputy governors, former speakers, current and former senators, and senior statesmen and women, the group is led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi.

The GAC has functioned as the unseen hand behind Lagos’ political apparatus since Tinubu’s resignation as governor in 2007, frequently making decisions on who gets what inside the state apparatus.

Former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, as well as later Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, benefited greatly from it.

But the prospect of Seyi Tinubu entering the race has sparked debate about political dynasties, qualifications, and the party’s course in the most crucial state in the nation.

Given that Lagos is a politically and economically complicated state, ZINGTIE noted that some stakeholders are concerned that Seyi’s candidacy—who has no prior experience in political office—could backfire.

His sole known position, according to critics, is that of CEO of Loatsad Promomedia Ltd, an outdoor advertising firm.

Many in the APC wonder if young energy alone can manage such a feat given the state’s enormous infrastructure demands and population of nearly 20 million.

Oshodi-Isolo’s top party source called the action “political arrogance.”

He said that having the president’s son lead Lagos while his father runs for reelection in 2027 will convey the wrong message.

Instead of feeling like democracy, it would feel like a tyranny. The insider stated, “We run the risk of alienating the electorate.”

But there are some who vehemently disagree.

They cited both domestic and international political dynasties to back up their claims.

Laken Agbaje, an Alimosho resident who supported Seyi, gave instances such as the Philippines, where Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was president and his son was governor, and the United States, where George W. Bush presided over Texas following his father, George H. W. Bush.

The Saraki family of Kwara State, in which a father and son served as governor at various points in time, was also mentioned.

“Seyi is a constitutional Nigerian with political rights. If the people want him and the party clears him, why not?” the APC chieftain stated, adding that Seyi has a lot of support from young people in Lagos and voters who are tech-savvy.

According to insiders, Seyi Tinubu is preparing some of his supporters to run for important posts, such as chairmanships, in the next Lagos State local government elections in response to the increasing support for his governorship campaign.

Residents have expressed anxiety over what they have called “undue interference” in the election process, which has prompted this step.

Many saw President Bola Tinubu’s loss to Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in Lagos State during the 2023 presidential election as an indication that his political power in his traditional heartland was eroding.

According to experts, this could be made worse if Seyi Tinubu is chosen as the APC’s candidate for governor, since this could increase voter discontent and make it more difficult for the party to win back widespread support in the state.

However, fairness and equity are more important to many party loyalists than political dynasty or competence.

Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe are the five IBILE administrative districts that make up Lagos State.

Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode, and Sanwo-Olu are the state’s four most recent governors, and they are all from Lagos Island and Epe.

Indeed, Lagos Island was the birthplace of the state’s first civil governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

As a result, Ikeja, Badagry, and Ikorodu are not represented at the top.

With many party members claiming that it is time for the gubernatorial seat to be rotated to other underrepresented districts, especially Ikorodu or Badagry, the call for zoning has gathered momentum.

It was learned that Seyi Tinubu’s possible desire to become governor was brought up by Lagos APC stakeholders at a recent meeting in Epe.

But since Seyi hasn’t formally announced his intentions to the party or its important stakeholders, the issue was promptly brought to light and dismissed.

Many members of the party are unsure of how to respond to this, and some are advising prudence until Seyi publicly takes action.

But according to information ZINGTIE obtained, a group within the party is covertly supporting Babajimi Benson, a representative from the Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, to be the state’s next governor.

Speaking under anonymity, another senior APC source stated, “The GAC and APC stakeholders are increasingly worried over Tinubu’s silence on the growing calls for his son’s governorship bid.

“The lack of clarity is creating a sense of uncertainty within the party and many of us are unsure how to proceed without guidance from the president himself.”

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