2027: Group tips Seyi Tinubu as next Lagos gov

A group, the Independent Civic Movement for Project Seyi Tinubu, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, as its preferred candidate for the Lagos State governorship election in 2027, insisting that his background, competence and capacity make him the best choice for the state.

The group’s coordinator, Mr Rabiu Adeniran, made the declaration on Thursday while speaking with journalists in Oshodi, Lagos, where he said the movement had begun mobilising 100,000 signatures across the state in favour of Tinubu.

Adeniran said Tinubu, a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, met all the constitutional requirements to contest the governorship, including the age benchmark of 35 years.

“Our movement endorses Mr Seyi Tinubu as the next governor of Lagos State in 2027.

We are spread across the state, and after careful consideration, we believe he is the best material for the job,” he said.

“We are calling on him to contest. We are already in the process of gathering signatures of Lagosians who believe he has the capacity to lead.”

He, however, acknowledged that the party leadership would ultimately decide on zoning and the conduct of the primaries, stressing that the APC had a deep pool of capable aspirants.

“Our fathers in the Governance Advisory Council know what to do. When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it. Once a candidate emerges, we will all rally round that person because the victory of our party is supreme,” he said.

He downplayed arguments regarding Seyi contesting for governor at the same time his father, President Bola Tinubu, would be seeking a second term, saying what was imperative was his competence and track record of service.

He stressed that the APC, as a progressive party, provides equal opportunities to all its members and does not discriminate based on family background, adding that Tinubu’s lineage should not be used to exclude him from political participation.

“The Nigerian Constitution does not discriminate based on sex, birth, religion, ethnicity or political opinion. The fact that Seyi Tinubu is the son of the President does not preclude him from running,” Adeniran said.

He dismissed claims that Tinubu’s potential candidacy would amount to political domination by a single family, noting that both the presidency and governorship are contested positions with multiple aspirants and parties involved.

“The father is not contesting for governorship, and the son is not contesting for president. They are not the sole aspirants in their respective offices. Democracy allows for competition,” he said.

Drawing parallels with other democracies, Adeniran cited examples from the United States, including the Bush and Kennedy families, to argue that leadership within families is not alien to democratic practice.

“In America, Bush the father was president, and the son was governor of Texas before becoming president. John F. Kennedy was president while his brothers also held public offices. What matters is competence, not family name,” he added.

He further argued that public discourse should focus on what individuals can offer rather than where they come from.

“We need to elevate our discourse beyond sentiments to capacity and ideas. The future is now,” he said.

Adeniran described Tinubu as a lawyer who is well-educated, well-exposed and deeply engaged in youth empowerment, mentorship and social interventions across the country.

He cited Tinubu’s recent visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he reportedly launched a free healthcare initiative aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality, noting that about 60 tertiary health institutions were benefitting from the programme.

“Forget campaign activities. Look at what Seyi Tinubu is doing across the federation—healthcare, youth support, mentorship. Lagos is a mini-Nigeria, and we need someone with a heart for inclusion,” he said.

The group’s coordinator also traced Tinubu’s political background to what he described as a legacy of leadership within his family, particularly the governance record of his father, President Bola Tinubu, during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.

“I was a student in Lagos in 1982. I saw how the city was rebuilt from the ruins, from Bar Beach to what we now have in Lekki. Leadership by example matters,” he said.

Adeniran argued that exposure to politics within families often influences career choices, just as children of professionals often follow similar paths.

“If a lawyer has five children, three or four may become lawyers because children learn what they live with. That does not disqualify them,” he added.

He also pointed to similar examples within the APC, including families with multiple members holding public office, saying the party does not discriminate against such arrangements.

“Our party does not practise discrimination. The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, has a son who is a local government chairman. Our First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was also a senator,” he said.(Punch)