Tinubu, Abiodun, and the Price of Rewarding Rebellion

The piece examines how Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has used political patronage to cement power in the southwest. It argues that President Bola Tinubu, after winning the 2023 election, backed Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, rewarding them for their loyalty during the party’s internal battles. The article contends that this “reward for rebellion”—granting key appointments, federal projects and party influence to those who supported Tinubu’s rise—has deepened factionalism within the APC and raised concerns about governance, accountability and the marginalisation of dissenting voices in the region. Views Nigeria