Lagos State Governorship Race Heats Up: A Power Struggle Unfolds
By Keem Abdul The most attention-commanding election in Nigeria, probably, is the Lagos State governorship election; and that’s for good reason. As Nigeria’s economic capital and most populous of the
By Keem Abdul
The most attention-commanding election in Nigeria, probably, is the Lagos State governorship election; and that's for good reason. As Nigeria's economic capital and most populous of the country's 36 states, Lagos enjoys the highest GDP pegged at over $100 billion. This is also by a wide margin considering the fact that Rivers State takes second place at $21 billion. So, yes, you should be interested in the political affairs of Lagos State, home to 17.2 million residents, boasting the most cosmopolitan mix of Nigerians across all ethnic groups and political leaning.
Now, with the general elections coming up in 2027, where Lagos State also stirs to an exciting contest following a rather eventful general elections of 2023, several political heavyweights have expressed interest in the highest seat of power in Lagos come 2027.
Akinwunmi Ambode, a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Lagos governor, who spent just one term in office between 2015-2019, is also tipped to contest. In 2015, Ambode, who eventually succeeded Babatunde Raji Fashola, ran for office defeating Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a keenly contested race by just 150,000 votes. A trained accountant with extensive civil service experience, Ambode served as the Accountant-General of Lagos State between 2006- 2012. Before that, he served as Treasurer at Alimosho Local Government, after which he was appointed as the acting Auditor General for Local Government, Lagos State, and then on to become the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Finance.
Ambode's tenure as Lagos governor, despite impressive infrastructural developments, didn't go without its own controversies. This situation might have contributed to him being the first sitting politician in Nigeria's Fourth Republic to lose a party primary for a second term bid. However, he was able to weather these grievances and demonstrate himself as a statesman by willingly supporting the bid of his eventual successor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Additionally, his bid to return as governor sparks fears of revenge, where he may dismantle existing political structures to establish himself as the new godfather of Lagos politics. Now, the question remains: considering his resume and humps in his political journey within Lagos, does Ambode still stand a chance at clinching the APC ticket to possibly succeed Babajide Sanwo-Olu?
Another key contestant is Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While many have criticized him, Seyi Tinubu has continued to gain clout over the years. He has established himself as a political figure in his own right despite not holding any political office. However, by being in the good books of several elected politicians, whose ascent to office is connected to his support, Seyi has a ready army of supporters for a gubernatorial bid, and a possible blessing from the President to go with it.
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Additionally, while many may think Seyi is too young to be Lagos governor come 2027, such assumption can be assumed to be born of uncertainty and not necessarily fact. All over the world, Millenials are assuming top political offices. The current US Vice President, JD Vance, for example, is 41 years old. Seyi Tinubu who turns 41 come October 2026 is not new to leadership. A lawyer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Seyi started his career as an intern at Oando PLC, from where he grew his experience before founding Loatsad Promomedia, a media company of which he is the Chief Executive Officer. While Seyi's relative youth is not a problem, he may be best positioned for the 2031 bid, and this is where an Ambode candidacy for 2027 might pave the way for Seyi ahead of 2031. This is if Ambode were to become governor in 2027, spending only one term in office: a situation that's highly unlikely considering he will not get the party’s blessing.
For these reasons, this is the best time for Seyi to run for governor. It also helps that he has majority support from the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), the apex decision-making body for Lagos politics, which was created by then-Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu. Seyi also has an impressive number of local government chairmen and LCDA leaders on his side, all of whom will do the groundwork for his bid. It is strongly advised, therefore, that Seyi contests now with a possible eight-year tenure until 2035, if he takes advantage of the current political atmosphere.
Another heavyweight contender for Lagos 2027 is Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu. He was, before now, the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives. A lawyer and accomplished politician, Gbajabiamila started his career at Bentley Edu & Co., a Lagos-based law firm before starting his own practice, Femi Gbaja & Co. After this, Femi earned his Juris Doctor from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School in Georgia, USA.
As a leading politician from the constituency of Surulere, Lagos, Gbajabiamila started his career as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Surulere 1 Constituency, being elected in 2003. He served for five consecutive terms within the same portfolio. To his credit, Gbajabiamila has been within the same corridor that culminated in the current All Progressive Congress (APC) since his initial foray into politics. He was elected on the platform of Alliance of Democracy (AD), and then on the aegis of the Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) between 2006-2013, and finally ending up on the ticket of the current ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC).
As a powerful Lagos politician with vast experience in grassroots politics, and visible constituency projects, Gbajabiamila is forceful contender for the Lagos seat. He is definitely not one to underestimate despite his relative quiet approach to politics, and a positively uneventful political resume.
Yet another key contender for Lagos governor is Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education who was previously the Minister of State for Health and Social Services, both in Tinubu's administration. A medical doctor specializing in nephorology, Alausa completed a residency in internal medicine at Royal Bolton College as well as University of Newcastle. After that, he was a resident at Cook County Hospital serving as Chief Medical Resident, and later on, Assistant professor at Rush University Medical School.
Tunji was appointed in 2023 to serve as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, and later redeployed to as Minister of Education in 2024. Considering the sophisticated nature of Lagos politics, and the need for continuity with expert leadership, will Tunji Alausa's strong reputation sway the party ticket in his direction for Lagos 2027?
Hakeem Muri Okunola is another likely candidate for the ticket. Currently serving as the Principal Secretary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he comes with an impressive resume, having served as the Head of Civil Service once upon a time. As the first son of the renowned Justice Muritala Okunola, Hakeem's pedigree and state-focused resume pull real weight in Lagos politics, and may be visible in the guber race.
Joining the Lagos state civil service in 2001, Hakeem was appointed as a personal assistant to Tinubu, until he was appointed as Executive Secretary to the Governor, Land Use and Allocation Committee. In 2011, Hakeem was appointed as Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Public Service. One of his most notable achievements was his work on the amended version of the Child's Rights Law and the Child Protection Policy, at the time he was a stakeholder on the board of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA).
Hakeem is formidable in grassroot politics and comes with a huge financial war chest, just like many other contenders, making him a strong candidate for the Alausa ticket in 2027.
In all of these, one truth is certain: the face of the Lagos political class is gradually changing and, with President Tinubu continuously proving himself to be a leader who encourages new ideas, it is certain that this trend will not stop as long as he holds significant influence.
For now, the question remains: who will clinch the APC ticket to contest for the next governor of Nigeria's largest economy, and the birthplace of some of its most powerful children who have served at both state and national level?
Only Asiwaju, the godfather of Lagos politics, holds the answer. He's kept his cards close to his chest, fueling speculation and pressure to reveal his preferred candidate. Insiders claim he'll make his move by next month, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. The stakes are high,, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. The competition is fierce. Who will emerge victorious? Only time will tell.
