Tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing have reportedly escalated following claims that funds were released to state youth leaders to strengthen a structure operating separately from the party’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.
According to internal exchanges reviewed, the alleged funding followed a message signed by senatorial youth leaders expressing support for Israel. The exchanges reportedly suggest that state youth leaders were encouraged to hold meetings and strengthen their structures. However, the claims have not been independently verified, and the APC has yet to issue an official response.
The dispute has also drawn attention to Seyi Tinubu’s City Boy Movement and the Mummy’s Men Movement associated with Israel. Both groups are linked to efforts to mobilise young people in support of President Bola Tinubu’s political ambitions, but the rivalry has reportedly intensified divisions within the party’s youth ranks.
The tension comes after the PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, in a statement dated October 20, 2026, named Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande as Director of Youth Mobilisation and appointed Israel as his deputy. The arrangement has reportedly fuelled frustration among some of Israel’s supporters, who believe the party’s elected youth leader has been sidelined in key mobilisation decisions.
The controversy has been compounded by a social media post Israel reportedly published on October 25, announcing the presentation of new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs to selected youth leaders. He thanked First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her continued support. The post was reportedly deleted about three hours later, prompting questions from critics about the source of funding for the vehicles. The reported market value of seven vehicles was estimated at about ₦1.015 billion, although the actual purchase price and funding source have not been established.
Sources within both camps alleged that loyalists were being encouraged to shift their allegiance from Israel to Seyi Tinubu. The publication also reported that the president’s son denied responsibility for the alleged release of funds in the internal exchanges, while the APC had not publicly addressed the broader allegations at the time of publication.
The dispute leaves questions about funding, accountability and the leadership of the APC’s youth mobilisation efforts unanswered. Neither the party nor the individuals involved had issued a comprehensive public response to the allegations as of the report’s publication.