GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State still has 30 months to serve, but the polity is already charged as potential aspirants eyeing his seat embark on exploratory footwork.
Those considered to be aspiring for the Alausa Round House on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, include President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu; serving Speaker of the Lagoa State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa; immediate past Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; and Senator Tokunbo Abiru
The man opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, 2023 Candidate, Abdulaziz Olajide Adediran (Jandor); and his Labour Party, LP, counterpart, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, are still nursing the ambition of governing the state.
Factors that will shape who emerges the candidates of the leading parties and winner of the poll proper include the choice of President Tinubu, indigeneship, religion, zoning, and Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, of the APC among others.
Religious card
Sanwo-Olu, a Christian succeeded Akinwunmi Ambode, another Christian. By 2027, Christians would have been in the saddle for 12 straight years, which is four years short of the 16 years that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola (who are Moslems) spent.
Thus some are angling for Ambode’s return to complete 16 years for Christians before power returns to Moslems in the state.
Currently, Seyi Tinubu has been receiving a series of endorsement from many groups just as Obasa, the longest serving Speaker of Lagos said he is not too young or inexperienced to run.
Indeed, some of those who stepped down their ambition in 2023 to allow Sanwo-Olu complete his second term, are angling to succeed the governor.
2023 power-play
With the benefit of hindsight, Sanwo-Olu’s emergence as governorship candidate in 2019 came as surprise to many after the ouster of the incumbent Governor Ambode by the power bloc in the APC led by the Jagaban himself, now President Tinubu.
Sanwo-Olu emerged as a consensus candidate after Tinubu’s endorsement. The rest is history.
His second term bid, however, came with its challenges following widespread rumours to dump him for some personalities such as the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, now Chief of Staff to the President; the then Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, fondly called HMO.
However, the move was, subsequently, debunked by HMO who is now the Principal Officer in the Office of Mr. President in Abuja, and Musiliu Obanikoro, and a few others.
Sanwo-Olu’s second term ambition received a boost when Gbajabiamila, during a local television programme, extolled the competence and leadership style of the governor, saying he had no immediate plan to contest, and stressed that the Governor must not be distracted on the good job he was doing.
Gbajabiamila also cleared the air on his rumoured ambition to contest for the Lagos’ governorship seat in 2023, saying he had “no immediate plan” to contest. He said the task before him as the Number 4 citizen in the country was enormous and tough enough for him to be distracted by the rumour.
Also, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a returnee to APC, who was also said to be interested in succeeding Sanwo-Olu, debunked the report, saying his statement was misconstrued by those peddling it.
The current Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Tokunbo Abiru was also touted to be eyeing the Lagos number one seat in 2027 after completing two terms in the Senate.
Some APC chieftains were of the opinion that Tinubu is a master planner and can spring surprises at any given time.
Initially, Hamzat also came into the picture as having plans to succeed Sanwo-Olu but a source said the inner caucus has plans for Hamzat to relocate to Epe in order to make a case for the Lagos East Senatorial slot and complete what ought to be Akinwumi Ambode’s card.
The only visible contenders from the PDP remains the convener of a political group, Lagos4Lagos, Olajide Adediran, popularly called “Jandor,” and LP’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Jandor has been pursuing his ambition following realignment with PDP founding fathers in the state to boost his chances of clinching the party’s ticket.
Obasa’s quest
During the 2025 budget presentation by Governor Sanwo-Olu, Speaker Obasa seized the opportunity to clear the air on his rumoured governorship ambition.
Obasa took the shine off the main issue of fiscal policy presentation. The assembly, led by Obasa had left everyone wondering what was going on haven kept the governor and his deputy waiting for a long while before sauntering into the hallow chamber to embark on business of the day.
The obviously fatigued audience and guests, who expected an open apology from the speaker for the delay, had to swallow the embarrassment as nothing of such happened. Apparently, in preparation for the game that was about to unfold, majority of the lawmakers spotted dark specs, shielding their countenance from the glare of the public.
Instructively, Obasa remains the longest-serving Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who also commands immense grassroots support and is known for his resilience in overcoming political challenges.
“Obasa’s strong ties to local communities particularly also make him a force to reckon with as regards his alignment with the Mandate Group, which further strengthens his position.
Earlier, a vote of confidence was passed on the Speaker by all the lawmakers present at plenary.
Speaking on the occasion, Obasa said: “May I use this medium to sensitise us more on the need to build and sustain our party, the APC regarding our focus for 2027. We need to continue to mobilise people just as I do frequently.
“I have made it a personal task to mobilise people on the platform of Mandate, which has been misconstrued by some political detractors as being a selfish aspiration on the ground for me to become governor of the state.
“There is the need, however, to correct this wrong impression. My concern is about building our party, and whatever we do is mainly for this cause.
”To the blackmailers who have embarked on the mission to distort and redefine our mission, let me state it unequivocally here, our intention is to promote our party on the platform of Mandate.
”Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas those who have been before me are not better off.
“Today, we want to assure Mr. Governor that this honourable House will look at the budget and do the necessary scrutiny as usual.
“But it should be noted that this institution remains resolute. We will never be disgraced, abused or ridiculed in the name of creating a seamless working ambience.
“The Assembly would not delay the passage of the budget, but we will be interested in placing a high premium on the need to ensure that the interests of Lagosians are protected socio-economically and politically.”
Seyi gets endorsements
Ahead of the 2027 poll, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, CONYL, an umbrella body of youth groups across the six geopolitical zones, endorsed Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor in 2027.
However, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Joe Igbokwe, a member of the APC, stated that Seyi, son of President Bola Tinubu, does not have the capacity to be governor of Lagos State.
Igbokwe knocked the groups over their support for the president’s son saying the “The situation is a distraction and an attempt to pull Tinubu down. To govern a state like Lagos is not a job for “boys.”
“Who are these faceless people pushing Seyi Tinubu for Lagos Governor? This is a needless distraction.
“To pull PBAT down is their target. Please allow PBAT to do his very engaging and tasking job. Ruling Lagos is not the job of boys?,” he wrote.
CONYL, a prominent umbrella body representing youth groups across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, subsequently expressed disappointment over remarks by Igbokwe,
A statement by its President-General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, described Igbokwe’s comments as baseless and outdated, emphasizing that age has never been the sole determinant of capacity or performance in leadership.
CONYL highlighted Seyi Tinubu’s achievements as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, asserting that his track record speaks volumes about his capacity to deliver in public office.
“Seyi Tinubu is not a boy but a man, fully prepared and capable of delivering. His governorship ambition is not a distraction to President Bola Tinubu but rather a testament to his dedication to public service,” the statement read.
The coalition asserted that Seyi Tinubu enjoys widespread support among residents, both residents and business owners, for his forward-thinking and philanthropic contributions.
‘Time for a Lagosian to govern Lagos’
Also, a coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths, vowed to move against non-indigenes in the 2027 governorship election in the State.
The youth group, in a statement by its president, Abdul Kareem Whyte, said it would not allow those it described as “faceless individuals to deny indigenous people of Lagos State the right to govern themselves in 2027.”
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor by a group known as Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) and the group is described as the umbrella body of all the youth groups drawn across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“It is no longer news that since 1999 no true blooded indigene of Lagos State has taken over the mantle of leadership in the state (except one), the marginalization which underscores the essence of democracy and an outright denial of the indigenous people of Lagos State the right to govern themselves.
“We know as a fact that there will soon be a vacancy in Osun State where Mr Seyi Tinubu can best exercise his democratic rights unhindered. And if the people of Owerri in Imo are also interested in benefiting from the experience Mr Seyi Tinubu has acquired in recent times, they can push him to succeed Governor Uzodimma.
“We are also aware of the moves by some non-indigenes to penetrate our traditional rulers and get endorsements and ratifications from them.
“Recently, one of the aspirants suddenly traced his ancestry to Ojo Local Government after spending more than a decade in power without identifying with the Awori people of Ojo in Lagos State.
“We are hereby calling on the Oba of Lagos to beware of persons who will soon seek indigeneship of Lagos State because of 2027. We will fight dirty if the Oba of Lagos allows such anti Lagos Indigenes move.”
APC reacts
Speaking on the battle for Lagos, Chairmen, Lagos chapter of the APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, through the Publicity Secretary, Seye Okadrjo, picked holes in reports that Speaker Obasa has drawn a battle line with Seyi Tinubu.
Oladejo said: ,”It’s a non-issue. 2027 is not even on the agenda of the party. This is the time for impactful and effective governance and not needless politicking to heat up the polity.
“I cannot recall any part of the speaker’s speech that drew the battle line with Seyi Tinubu or any other governorship aspirant for that matter. However, we understand the priority attention of the opposition who perpetually seek an opportunity for relevance.
“The party congress of APC at the three tiers and the local government elections are more important at this point in time. For now, our party members are admonished to promote activities that will engender cohesion and progress within the party.”
