A respected northern political analyst and pioneer Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), Mallam Adamu Muhammad Nababa, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tread carefully regarding growing support for his son, Seyi Tinubu, ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
Speaking from his Mariri residence in Kano, Nababa warned that Seyi’s rumored political ambitions could deepen internal fractures within the All Progressives Congress (APC), echoing historical missteps that cost rival parties dearly.
“It would be inappropriate for the president to allow such a move,” he said, referencing internal unrest in the Lagos State House of Assembly and drawing comparisons to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) misfortune in Jigawa State. “If we don’t learn from history, we’re bound to repeat it.”
Nababa pointed to the example of former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa, whose decision to back his son for governor alienated many party leaders and weakened the PDP’s grip on the state.
“Strong politicians left the party out of frustration. Lamido still has influence, but he made a strategic error. President Tinubu should avoid a similar path,” he said.
Although President Tinubu has not publicly endorsed his son’s candidacy, Nababa described the growing enthusiasm among party loyalists for Seyi’s potential run as “odd” and potentially damaging.
“In politics, grooming matters. You don’t just throw your child into high office. Let him learn, build credibility, and earn support over time,” he advised.
Drawing parallels to developments in Kano, Nababa noted that the son of a former governor currently serves as commissioner — a move that has sparked whispers of dynasty politics.
“People are watching. They remember. These things don’t disappear,” he said. “You may not call it a dynasty, but that’s how it’s seen.”
He also took a swipe at Lamido for criticizing Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan outreach to northern communities, calling it hypocritical.
“At least Tinubu has not announced his son’s candidacy. But here’s someone who did just that, now throwing stones.”
In closing, Nababa stressed that while it’s not wrong for children of politicians to enter public life, such ambitions must be rooted in mentorship, service, and patience—not family name or entitlement
