A quiet struggle for influence within President Bola Tinubu’s political camp appears to be spilling into preparations for his re-election bid, with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, at the centre of an alleged cold war over youth mobilisation.

The latest flashpoint is the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council’s youth mobilisation directorate, where a reshuffle has reportedly exposed competing interests within the president’s re-election machinery.

On Tuesday, the campaign council announced changes to its leadership structure, including the creation of a directorate for stage organisation and management and adjustment of the headship of youth mobilisation directorate.

In a statement signed by Imo State Governor and council secretary, Hope Uzodimma, the council named Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, as director of youth mobilisation and APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, as his deputy.

However, a source familiar with the dispute claimed the arrangement displeased the First Lady, who allegedly preferred Israel to head the directorate. 

The source said Olawande was perceived by the First Lady’s camp as being loyal to Seyi and his CityBoy Movement, which has been mobilising support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

According to the source, the subsequent push to elevate Israel to director was part of an effort to limit Seyi’s growing influence in the campaign structure.

The development was followed by the circulation of AI-generated posters congratulating Israel on his purported “promotion from deputy director to Director of PCC Youth Directorate.”

Israel shared the posters on his X account with comments aimed at authenticating his youth leadership of the party.

Responding to comments questioning whether he could outrank Olawande, a serving minister, he argued that party hierarchy placed him above the minister.

“In political ranking, a National Working Committee member is senior to a minister or equivalent,” he said.

CityBoy, Mummy’s Men: Two mobilisation platforms, competing interests

The alleged tension is not limited to campaign appointments. It also centres on two support groups associated with the president’s family: the CityBoy Movement, founded by Seyi, and Mummy’s Men Movement, launched by the First Lady.

In August, Israel, who has been associated with the First Lady’s initiative as a convener, announced the group on Facebook, describing it as a platform for mobilising support for Tinubu’s second term.

“This is Mummy’s Men’s Movement. Inspired by First Lady Mrs Tinubu - Our Mummy,” he wrote, clarifying that the group was open to women, young people and Nigerians across age groups.

The source alleged that the initiative was established partly to counter the CityBoy Movement, which has built a profile through youth-focused political mobilisation.

“The First Lady does not like the CityBoy Movement and doesn’t want to have anything to do with it,” the source claimed.

The source also recalled an incident during the commissioning of the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in August.

According to the account, the First Lady allegedly instructed her security detail to contact the state’s Director of the Department of State Services, Atimibara Digitemie, and prevent CityBoy Movement members from attending the event.

Members of the movement had reportedly planned to attend the commissioning because it coincided with the inauguration of the group’s officials in Ogun State. The inauguration was subsequently rescheduled, according to the source.

The allegation, if accurate, would point to tensions between the two mobilisation networks extending beyond campaign appointments and into access to presidential events.

Tinubu’s public praise for Seyi allegedly adds to the tension

The alleged cold war is also said to have been aggravated by the president’s recent public recognition of Seyi’s political activities.

At an event the official meeting of President Tinubu and the CityBoy members held in the State House, the President praised his son’s efforts to mobilise young supporters for the 2027 election, describing the initiative as a humble undertaking that had not been driven by a demand for official titles or positions.

“Now permit me a personal moment, with my son, Seyi. I have watched what you’ve started with City Boy,” the President said.

He added  “You and your young colleagues, you are investing your time effectively. We are with you. Thank you. You did it humbly. You did not ask for a title or an office.”

He went further, “The CityBoy Movement, to all of you, you have done something new in Nigeria politics. You did not just gather people; you built a structure, millions of real, verifiable members.”

The source claimed the praise angered the First Lady, who allegedly felt that the president was giving Seyi’s movement undue recognition and credit for building youth support for his re-election.

The source further alleged that the First Lady’s recent political engagements and donations were part of a broader effort to counter the CityBoy Movement’s growing influence within the presidency.

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