Ahead of the July 12, 2025 Local Government elections, concerned residents of Lagos State have raised the alarm over what they termed as “undue interference” of President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, into the electoral process.
Some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), also voiced their concerns, noting that if Seyi’s excesses are not urgently tamed, the party is not only capable of losing the elections to the opposition but it might negatively impact the party’s chances in the 2027 elections in the state.
A resident of Agege, Segun Odion alleged that Seyi Tinubu had started the process of installing his stooges in the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), against the popular aspirants who are capable of bringing dividends of democracy and development to the grassroots.
“I can tell you that Seyi has standby ‘candidates’ across the local governments. This is aimed towards having a soft landing when he is ready to contest for the governorship seat in the state. He has started spending money, which those already on the queue for several years cannot spend.
“Aside this money, the fact that he is the president’s son has given him the free hand as the leaders across the councils have become helpless.”
“One of the confirmations to this is the alleged ratification of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa’s son, who has reportedly been endorsed as Chairman of Agege local government. The sad thing is that majority of those he’s bringing on board, are neophytes who know next to nothing about grassroots administration,” another resident added.
Investigations showed that from Ijaiye Ojokoro, Agbado Oke-Odo, Agege all through other local councils, Seyi’s ‘imposition’ plans are becoming a reality as some of the leaders who have allegedly been ‘tipped’ have promised their solidarity to him to ensure his candidates emerge.
Further investigations showed that the same scenario played out in the 2021 local council election, where he used his influence to ‘turn the table’ after the original list of successful candidates was thrown out to favour his candidates.
At that period, it was learnt that some of the aspirants who did not purchase the nomination form or partake in the screening process found their way into office.
It was further gathered that the current chairman of Kosofe local government, Moyo Ogunlewe, who was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was single-handedly imposed by Seyi on the popular candidate in the 2021 poll.
Further check revealed that currently, Seyi has six members of the State House of Assembly who were his candidates in the last general elections and are working arduously to show their solidarity by ensuring that his wishes are fulfilled.
“We cannot be serving the father and also serve the son at the same time. His actions, moves and body language, especially ahead of the July poll is inimical to the growth of the third tier of government in the state, and it must be stopped forthwith.
“If the president, the governor and the leaders keep mute on this, definitely, it’s going to serve a death-knell to the party,” a top APC chieftain said.
“From the last presidential election, the sign was visible for everyone to see when opposition party defeated APC. The parties are surely waiting for Seyi and his father to put their cronies in the councils, against the popular wish, to milk the purse.
“I am sure Lagos people will not open their eyes and allow Tinubu’s son to impose his stooges in the forthcoming Local government elections, they will resist the shenanigans at the poll,” another executive of the party said. (SaharaReporters)
