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Lagos APC, GAC in dilemma over Seyi Tinubu’s rumoured 2027 guber ambition

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Tensions are reportedly growing within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its influential Governance Advisory Council, GAC, over the rumoured governorship ambition of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

At just 39 years old, Seyi Tinubu is being tipped by several youths and diaspora groups as the next ideal candidate to lead Lagos State.

His endorsements from the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, The Future Platform, and some Nigerian communities abroad have given wind to speculation that he may soon throw his hat into the governorship race.

Although he has yet to make a formal declaration, insiders say underground efforts to lobby for his candidacy are already in full gear.

If Seyi Tinubu, 39, emerges as governor in 2027, he would set a new record as the youngest person to lead Lagos State since its creation in 1967.

Currently, that record is held by Babatunde Fashola, who became governor at age 43 in 2007.

But far from being met with a resounding welcome, the development has placed the party and its leadership in a difficult position.

The GAC, a 30-man powerful and highly influential political organ founded by President Tinubu himself when he was governor in 1999, is reportedly divided over the prospect of Seyi emerging as the APC’s governorship flag bearer.

The group, headed by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has 30 members, including ex-governors, ex-deputy governors, ex-speakers, former and incumbent senators as well as elder statesmen and women.

Since Tinubu’s exit as governor in 2007, the GAC has operated as the unseen hand behind Lagos’ political machinery, often deciding who gets what within the state’s structure.

It was instrumental in the emergence of former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode and later Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

However, the possibility of Seyi Tinubu stepping into the frame has raised questions about political dynasty, merit and the direction of the party in the country’s most strategic state.

It was observed that some stakeholders are worried that fielding Seyi, who lacks any track record of political office, could backfire, especially with Lagos being a politically sophisticated and economically complex state.

Critics argue that his only known role so far is as CEO of Loatsad Promomedia Ltd, an outdoor advertising firm.

For a state of over 20 million people and massive infrastructural needs, many within the APC question whether youthful energy alone is enough to handle such a task.

One senior party member from Oshodi-Isolo, described the move as “political arrogance.”

He suggested that it would send the wrong message for the president’s son to govern Lagos while his father seeks re-election in 2027.

“It would feel like dictatorship, not democracy. We risk alienating the electorate,” the source said.Others, however, strongly disagree.

They pointed to global and local political dynasties to support their argument.

A pro-Seyi supporter, Laken Agbaje, from Alimosho, cited examples like the Philippines, where Ferdinand Marcos Sr was president while his son served as governor and the United States, where George W. Bush governed Texas after his father, George H. W. Bush, served as president.

They also referenced the Saraki family of Kwara State, where both father and son held the governor’s seat at different times.

“Seyi is a constitutional Nigerian with political rights. If the people want him and the party clears him, why not?” the APC chieftain said, while noting that Seyi enjoys significant goodwill among Lagos youth and digital-savvy voters.

Following the growing push for Seyi Tinubu’s governorship candidacy, sources indicate that he is strategically positioning some of his loyalists to contest for key positions, including chairman roles, in the upcoming local government elections in Lagos State.

This move has sparked concern among residents, who have raised alarms over what they described as “undue interference” in the electoral process.

In the 2023 presidential election, President Bola Tinubu lost Lagos State to Peter Obi of the Labour Party, a development many interpreted as a warning sign of waning political dominance in his traditional stronghold.

This, observers believe, could be further compounded if Seyi Tinubu emerges as the APC governorship candidate, as such a move may deepen voter resentment and hinder the party’s chances of reclaiming broad support across the state.

Still, for many party loyalists, the issue is not only about political dynasty or competence, but fairness and equity.

Lagos State is divided into five administrative districts known as IBILE: Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe.

The last four governors of the state, including Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode and Sanwo-Olu, have hailed from Lagos Island and Epe.

In fact, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civil governor of the state also claimed to be a native of Lagos Island.

This leaves Ikorodu, Badagry and Ikeja without representation at the top.

The clamour for zoning has gained traction, with many party members arguing that it is high time the governorship seat rotated to other underrepresented districts, particularly Ikorodu or Badagry.

It was gathered that during a recent meeting in Epe, the issue of Seyi Tinubu’s potential governorship ambition came up among Lagos APC stakeholders.

However, the matter was quickly flagged and set aside, as Seyi has yet to officially declare his intentions to the party or its key stakeholders.

This has left many in the party uncertain about how to proceed, with some urging caution until Seyi formally makes his move.

However, it was learnt that a faction within the party is silently backing Babajimi Benson, a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency as the next governor of the state.Another top APC source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “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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NASS Lauds Wike’s Exceptional Performances as FCT Minister

Wike appealed to the lawmakers to approve the N1.78 trillion FCT Statutory Budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year.

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Ningi, who equates the current status of the FCT with Johannesburg and Cairo, however, urges the FCT minister to do more to improve the security in the territory.

The leadership and members of the National Assembly have lauded the exceptional performance of Mr Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The lawmakers gave the commendation when Wike appeared before them to defend the N1.78 trillion FCT Statutory Budget proposal for the 202 fiscal year.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Ibrahim Bomai, particularly commended Wike for the wonderful performance in just a short time as FCT minister, along with the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.

Bomai also said he was impressed with the FCT’s 2025 revenue and fiscal framework.

“This is the first time FCT is proposing to generate about N1.7 trillion. What FCT has presented is one of the best budgets so far.

Also, the N608 billion projected Internally Generated Revenue for 2025 also shows a significant improvement,” he said.

Also, Sen. Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP), commended the FCT minister for the comprehensive turnaround of Abuja as Nigeria’s capital city.

Ningi, who equates the current status of the FCT with Johannesburg and Cairo, however, urged the minister to do more to improve the security in the territory.

Similarly, Sen. Mohammed Ndume (Borno South APC) said: “Everybody that knows where Abuja was two years ago and what it is now, knows that you have done well.

“Even yesterday, my friend told me that Wike is doing fine, and I said no, it is the Senate that is doing fine because without approving his budget, he cannot do anything”.

Ndume pledged the continued support of the Senate to enable him to succeed.

On his part, Sen. Osita Ozunaso (Imo West, APC) said that the FCT budget performance was commendable, particularly the reduction in personnel cost to allocate more funds to capital projects.

“Whenever we are sitting on budgets, people come here and they increase the personnel cost, but you have reduced the personnel cost in the 2025 proposed budget by N21 billion from the amount allocated in 2024.

“Second, you have more capital expenditure than recurrent expenditure. This is commendable,” Ozunaso said.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North, APC) described Wike as one of the best ministers under the APC administration.

Oshiomhole noted that too much money was being spent on overhead with very little available for infrastructure, “what Wike has done is worth noting and commendation”.

He also commended the FCT minister for implementing specific programmes to bring life to rural communities in FCT.

This, he said, was the most potent statement to decongest the city, by taking development to the people where they live.

Also, Sen. Ireti Kingibe (FCT, LP), who had been very critical of Wike’s leadership style, commended the minister for the visible performance, which she said was undisputable.

Earlier, at the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Committee on FCT, Mr Muktar Betara, commended Wike for the ongoing transformation of the nation’s capital.

Other lawmakers took turns to applaud the exemplary performance and dedication of the FCT minister to deliver the dividend of democracy to FCT residents in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Earlier, Wike appealed to the lawmakers to approve the N1.78 trillion FCT Statutory Budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year.

He explained that out of the N1.78 trillion, N1.28 trillion was earmarked for capital projects, representing 72.3 percent, while N494.1 billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure, representing 27.7 per cent.

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JUST IN: JAMB Offers Second Chance: Mop-Up Exams for Absentee

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced a fresh round of mop-up examinations to accommodate the over 5.6 per cent of candidates who missed the just-concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, stating that the initiative will cover all affected candidates, regardless of the reason for their absence.

He said, “This time, we are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier exam due to absence will get another opportunity.

“It’s not extraordinary. In any serious system, when students miss an exam, they’re allowed to make up—provided there’s no abuse.”

Oloyede emphasised that the UTME is a placement test, not a measure of intelligence or academic potential.

“Its purpose is to rank candidates for limited admission slots, not to test how smart someone is,” he clarified.

Addressing growing criticism and conspiracy theories about the examination process, Oloyede firmly rejected claims of ethnic bias or administrative incompetence.

He stated, “I take responsibility, not because I failed, but because that’s leadership.

“I didn’t even realise people viewed issues around me through ethnic lenses. We must rise above such profiling.

”Oloyede als praised both candidates and staff for their resilience amid logistical difficulties.

“We had limited space. We knew if we wasted more time grieving the challenges, students would lose their opportunity,” he said.

The special mop-up exam will be scheduled soon, and JAMB says it remains committed to transparency and fairness in admissions.

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JUST IN: IGP condemns unprovoked attack on IRT operatives in Edo State

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….Orders Investigation into Oyo Tragic Traffic Incident‎‎

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has condemned the recent unprovoked attacks on police operatives in the early hours of Monday, 20th May 2025, at Okhuimwun Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.‎‎

In a press statement made available to Ohibaba.com, and signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, ‎Force public relations officer, ‎at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, ‎on the 21st May, 2025, the IGP also condemned the alleged killing of an SSCE student by police personnel in Ibadan.

The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemns the unprovoked attack on police operatives in the early hours of Monday, 20th May 2025, at Okhuimwun Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

‎‎The operatives, who are members of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), were in transit from Lagos through Edo State when they encountered a mob that had blocked the road immediately after the University of Benin (UNIBEN) axis.

The mob, in an unlawful display of aggression, descended on the officers with stones, sticks, and other dangerous objects, inflicting serious injuries on two police personnel.

‎‎It is noteworthy that despite the provocation and threat to life, the officers exercised commendable restraint by not resorting to the use of force.

The injured officers are currently receiving medical attention and are in stable condition.

‎‎The Nigeria Police Force warns against acts of lawlessness and unprovoked aggression against its personnel who are committed to maintaining law and order and hereby assure the public that investigations have commenced, and appropriate legal actions will be taken against those found culpable.

‎‎In a separate development, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered a comprehensive investigation into a tragic incident in Oyo State involving personnel of the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA), which led to the unfortunate demise of a 14-year-old boy, Kehinde Alade.‎‎

The Inspector-General of Police condemned the incident and assured that the officer involved in the shooting has been taken into custody while a full-scale investigation is underway.

He equally reiterated that the process will be transparent, and its findings will be made public to ensure justice is duly served as he expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased young man.

‎‎The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urges citizens to remain law-abiding and to channel grievances through lawful and peaceful means.‎‎‎

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