IJEBU-ODE, Nigeria — The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dayo Israel, has reportedly urged party youths in Ogun State to distance themselves from the CityBoy Movement, a political support group led by President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Israel reportedly issued the warning during a meeting with APC youths on Thursday, October 29, 2026, ahead of a door-to-door campaign for the president’s re-election in 2027.
The campaign was held in Ijebu-Ode on Friday.
An APC youth who attended the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Trent’s political reporter said Israel insisted that the party’s official youth wing should remain the principal structure for mobilising young supporters for the president.
The source said Israel also questioned the long-term relevance of independent political support groups, arguing that they would cease to exist after the 2027 general election while the APC would remain.
“All these support groups will stop existing after election, only the party will remain,” Israel reportedly told the gathering.
According to the source, the remarks followed Israel’s observation that one of the participants was wearing a cap bearing the CityBoy Movement’s insignia.
The account suggests that Israel was seeking to reinforce the authority of the APC’s established youth structure as different organisations mobilise support for the president’s second-term ambition.
The reported comments have not been independently corroborated.
The Controversial Prado SUV Distribution
The meeting also reportedly featured comments about the distribution of Toyota Prado sport utility vehicles to selected APC youth leaders, an exercise that has generated public criticism over its cost and the circumstances surrounding the allocations.
According to the anonymous attendee, Israel defended rewarding party members who had demonstrated loyalty and commitment.
“I dey share Prado, If I give you one won’t you take it? Na my loyal people dey get am. I called the deputy youth leader of Oyo State to come to Abuja to come and pick one because he has worked. You too can benefit from this party,” the source quoted him as saying.
The remarks, if accurately reported, indicate that Israel presented the allocation of vehicles as a reward for service to the party and an incentive for continued political participation.
The Prado controversy had already attracted widespread attention after Israel announced that vehicles had been provided to selected youth leaders to support election mobilisation activities.
As reported by Premium Times, Israel subsequently deleted a social media post displaying the vehicles after criticism from Nigerians who questioned the expenditure.
The controversy prompted questions about the vehicles’ purchase costs, funding arrangements, and criteria for selecting beneficiaries.
CityBoy Movement and APC Youth Wing
The reported warning comes as the APC and affiliated political organisations prepare their mobilisation structures for the 2027 general election.
The CityBoy Movement, associated with Seyi Tinubu, has been involved in organising support for the president’s re-election campaign.
Israel, meanwhile, heads the APC’s official national youth structure, which is also involved in mobilising young party members and supporters.
Both organisations are working towards the same electoral objective, but the remarks attributed to Israel suggest disagreement over which structure should direct youth mobilisation activities.
The distinction is particularly significant as political support groups expand their activities ahead of the elections.
For the APC’s official youth wing, the party’s organisational structure extends beyond individual election cycles.
The CityBoy Movement operates as a separate political support platform associated with the president’s son.
Israel’s alleged insistence that party members prioritise the official youth wing has brought renewed attention to the relationship between the two organisations.
His reported prediction that independent support groups would disappear after the election also raises questions about how the different mobilisation structures intend to coordinate their activities.
The remarks attributed to Israel have not been confirmed by an official statement from him or the APC.
Both the party’s youth wing and the CityBoy Movement remain engaged in activities intended to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
