Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over recent allegations made against Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by a factional leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Speaking in a statement released on Saturday, Obi said the allegations, if proven true, are “troubling” and raise serious concerns about the state of youth leadership and democracy in Nigeria.
The controversy began when Atiku Abubakar Isah, the factional NANS President, accused Seyi Tinubu of abducting and torturing him. Isah claims the incident occurred after he allegedly rejected a bribe and refused to accept interference in NANS leadership affairs. He also accused Seyi Tinubu of attempting to disrupt the official inauguration of NANS in Abuja by sending in thugs to scatter the event.
Reacting to the claims, Obi said: “These troubling allegations raise critical questions about the independence of student leadership and the subtle erosion of young voices in our democracy.”
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According to Obi, allegations against Seyi Tinubu by the NANS president represent a dangerous trend where youth voices are being suppressed through force, manipulation, or intimidation. He stressed that Nigerian youths must be free to speak without fear of violence or political exploitation.
“Nigeria’s youth should not feel coerced, silenced, or absorbed into political agendas that do not reflect their will,” he said. “The oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalize.”
Obi further urged the country to uphold justice and protect its institutions, saying, “We must return to a Nigeria where justice is done and seen to be done—without theatrics or abuse. A country where youth can speak freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions act responsibly.”
The NANS allegations against Seyi Tinubu have sparked nationwide debate, with some political groups demanding a thorough investigation, while others have dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. As of now, there has been no official government response to Obi’s statement.
