Tinubu jokes Seyi is 'running after his father' at Abuja youth event
- President Tinubu said callers had asked him what his son Seyi was running for.
- He answered that Seyi was running after his father, drawing laughter at a City Boy Movement event in Abuja.
- The clip drew mixed reactions online, with some praising the bond and others questioning family influence in politics.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has spoken publicly about the role his son, Seyi Tinubu, is playing in rallying young Nigerians, using an event in Abuja to praise him and joke about the question he keeps getting.
The president was speaking at a City Boy Movement gathering billed as "An Evening with the Original City Boy," which was broadcast by TVC News. He singled out Seyi for recognition before the audience.
According to the president, people had been calling him in recent weeks to ask what his son was running for. "I said he's running after his father," Tinubu said, drawing a light moment from the room.
Why it matters
The remark put a public spotlight on the City Boy Movement, which has been mobilising young supporters behind the president's bid to return to power in the 2027 general elections. For many Nigerians, youth politics and the influence of political families are live issues, especially as the next election cycle draws closer.
The clip, shared on X on Monday, 19 October 2026, drew a range of reactions. Some users praised the father-son bond. One wrote that "every father will definitely be proud of a son like Seyi," while adding that he still disagreed with some of the president's policies and that "the masses are suffering too much."
Others were less warm. One user said the moment showed rulers "prioritise their families over Nigerians," and another argued that Seyi's push for his father to get another chance was "his selfish gain." Several simply enjoyed the exchange, with one calling it a "great moment for father and son."
The reactions show how quickly a personal aside at a political event can become a debate about family, youth mobilisation and the cost of living.
What happens next
The City Boy Movement is expected to keep mobilising young voters ahead of 2027. Neither the president nor Seyi has announced a specific office or candidacy, and the president's comment was made in jest. Nigerians should watch for clearer statements from the movement and from the president's camp as the election period approaches.
