On Might 29, 2027, Lagos is predicted to have a model new governor who on that day might be sworn in because the sixteenth, government chief of the state to switch incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who on that day would have exhausted his constitutionally allowed two phrases of eight years in workplace.
Although, it’s nonetheless two and a half years to the appointed date, quite a lot of intrigues are already enjoying out as those that are searching for the plum job have commenced jostling for it.
Whereas some have commenced jostling, others are nonetheless nonetheless bidding their time and assessing the state of affairs to establish whether or not it will likely be well worth the plunge for them to contest because the stakes appear to be getting increased by the day.
This piece makes an attempt to unveil those that are thought-about to be within the radar of political actions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It’s going to additionally attempt to spotlight their probabilities by appraising their strengths and weaknesses.
Akinwunmi Ambode
One title that has continued to be on the lips of most members of the APC in Lagos State is that of a former occupier and speedy previous governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, who many are touting as having been anointed by stakeholders within the get together to return again to finish his time period of workplace.
It will be recalled that Ambode who previous to his emergence because the chief government of the state was the Accountant Basic throughout the regime of Babatunde Fashola whom he succeeded in 2015 after many stakeholders within the APC labored towards his re-election in 2019.
Many leaders of the APC labored towards him, having accused him of sidelining them within the scheme of issues when he was governor. The grouse of the stakeholders and different outstanding non-partisan Lagosians was that they lacked any iota of inputs when he (Ambode) held sway because the governor.
From findings carried out by Saturday Telegraph, Ambode’s title appears to be on the lips of many stakeholders within the get together as many hitherto aggrieved members are mentioned to have mellowed their hardline stance towards him and could be prepared to work for him to finish his eight years constitutional restrict in workplace come 2027.
Strengths
Ambode’s seeming political resurgence in accordance with sources throughout the get together would possibly truly be premised on the form of constructive approval he has with many Lagosians who nonetheless harbour some type of sympathy for him on the subject of how he was shoved apart for Sanwo-Olu.
That is additionally helped by the notion amongst Lagosians that he carried out excellently throughout his four-year stint in workplace and that the therapy the APC meted out to him performed out within the consequence of the 2023 ballot when President Bola Tinubu misplaced his Lagos base to the opposition Labour Party.
However for some adroit strikes, Sanwo-Olu would have misplaced the governorship ballot to the identical Labour Party, thus robbing the APC of its most cherished political base which is Lagos.
Sources within the know mentioned the pondering within the APC now could be to search for a really acceptable candidate to current to the residents of the state within the gentle of the present efficiency of the APC on the nationwide degree.
“We’re trying on the course of Ambode to return and take his constitutional second time period of workplace. We’re contemplating him due to the love and respect he enjoys amongst Lagosians,” a member of the state government council of the APC who pleaded to not be named informed our correspondent.
In keeping with the supply, “We’re already making an attempt to see how we are able to make him mend fences with main stakeholders and teams throughout the get together who’ve one grievance or two towards him to melt their stance.”
Drawbacks
Sources within the know informed our correspondent that a number of the grievances are deep seated owing to the truth that a few of those that really feel harm about his tenure are but to let go of their anger and are working in the direction of thwarting any efforts to convey him again.
“Many individuals within the get together have continued to accuse him of highhandedness, citing how he ran his authorities by excluding members of the APC who labored for his election. Many individuals within the get together have some reservations on the subject of his return,” the supply mentioned.
Hon. Mudashiru Obasa
One other outstanding chief of the APC whose title is being bandied round is the present Speaker of the State Home of Meeting, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who many describe as ‘a severe contender.’
These within the know throughout the Lagos State chapter of the APC price him as a significant stakeholder whose affect out and in of the get together can’t be wished away contemplating his standing within the ruling get together.
Obasa is a five-term member of the state Home of Meeting and a 3rd time period serving speaker of the Meeting whose affect far transcends the confines of the Home, contemplating his affect throughout the get together which stems from his closeness to the very best degree of authority within the APC.
He let loose his intention just lately throughout the presentation of the 2025 finances by Governor Sanwo-Olu to the Meeting when he mentioned he was properly certified to manipulate the state, saying people who had presided over the affairs of the state up to now lacked his credentials.
Sensing the hazard inherent in his speech, Obasa made clarification when he added that he hadn’t given it a thought and that the sequence of conferences, contacts and mobilisation he has been embarking on in latest occasions have been all aimed strengthening the get together’s capacity for steady dominance within the state.
Strengths
Obasa not like many others jostling for the workplace has wider attain and contacts inside and outdoors the get together to attract from when the competition turns into hotter. His membership of the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC) can also be mentioned to be a supply of political energy for him.
Drawbacks
Apart from this, Obasa’s meteoric rise in politics and his sustaining capacity has served as a burden to his aspiration contemplating the quantity of loyalty and enmity he has garnered for himself time beyond regulation in his political profession.
Obafemi Hamzat
Extremely cerebral and calm, Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat is the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state who’s vastly uncovered professionally and politically in and outdoors the state.
A doctorate diploma holder in System Course of Engineering, he’s mentioned to be within the race however for now, nothing too severe is coming from his course. His aspiration could be approaching the heels of his preliminary failed try when he misplaced the primaries of the get together to the eventual winner, Akinwunmi Ambode within the construct as much as the 2015 ballot.
Strengths
Hamzat is the scion of late Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat, a standard ruler in his lifetime and one of many disciples of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The late conventional ruler was throughout his lifetime, the chief of a strong caucus throughout the APC known as Justice Discussion board.
This platform has continued to wax robust and it’s mentioned that it (Justice Discussion board) has been inherited by his son who has since assumed its management. So formidable is the group that the get together needed to bend over backward by allotting the slot of deputy governorship to it.
Drawbacks
What is taken into account as a supply of energy for Hamzat has truly grow to be a burden contemplating the tendency of the get together to not choose core politicians for the governorship of the state owing to perceived issue the get together would possibly encounter in managing such figures when elected.
Hamzat comes from a properly established political household; contemplating the truth that he had the chance of studying the ropes from his late father, will this grow to be a downside given the tendency alluded to?
Tokunbo Abiru
The son of a revered jurist, Justice Mubasheer Akanbi Abiru, Tokunbo is a educated accountant and an expert banker who rose to the top of his profession by rising the managing director of Polaris Bank earlier than his foray into politics in 2019.
A local of Ikorodu, Abiru is presently the member representing Lagos East District within the Senate, serving his second time period of workplace.
Strengths
Although he has not declared his intention to contest, many within the APC nonetheless see him as a powerful contender, contemplating his many constructive factors, which many imagine will finally work for Abiru within the construct as much as the 2027 ballot.
Ikorodu, his native enclave stays one of many two different divisions throughout the state which have but to provide an elected chief government of the state. On this bracket is the Badagry Division.
Many stakeholders within the get together are nonetheless saying that the slot ought to go there this time as a manner of carrying the division alongside within the scheme of issues because the creation of the state in 1967.
Abir’s perceived restricted understanding of politics would possibly show helpful for individuals who would finally resolve the place the pendulum will swing.
A religious Muslim, it’s anticipated that he would even be thought-about owing to the truth that the outgoing governor and his speedy predecessor in workplace are Christians.
Drawbacks
It’s extensively identified that he has no identified platform by means of which he hopes to make any significant bid, a state of affairs that may influence negatively on his bid ought to he attempt to give vent to any aspiration he might need on this course.
Hakeem Muri-Okunola
Presently the Personal Secretary to President Tinubu, Muri-Okunola is the speedy previous Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service who can also be being touted within the political circles owing to his closeness to supply of energy throughout the get together, significantly, the President.
Son of the late Justice Muritala Okunola, the younger politician is claimed to benefit from the confidence of the president who many sources say was a good friend and shut confidant of his late father.
Strengths
Largely seen as apolitical, the Lagos Island born retired civil servant is claimed to take pleasure in broad respect throughout the political circles, particularly throughout the APC and his aspiration won’t essentially evoke detrimental vibes as it could be embraced by many.
These within the know are of the opinion that he would possibly truly be the darkish horse on this manner contemplating the truth that he has largely been evaded partisan politics and has by no means attracted any type of detrimental vibes to himself.
Drawbacks
His aspiration may also draw some pointless vibes from politicians within the state who imagine that any form of consideration for the governorship should and ought to be zoning delicate.
These on this line of thought argue that because the incumbent hails from the identical senatorial zone, Lagos Central as Muri-Okunola, the slot ought to go to a different space and never that very same place the place the present holder hails from.
Seyi Tinubu
Mr. Seyi Tinubu is the son of President Tinubu who can also be being rumoured to be fascinated about throwing his hat into the ring however sources within the know argue that that bid is not going to occur in spite of everything.
“I can let you know at no cost that this (Seyi Tinubu’s rumoured bid) isn’t within the works. Some persons are solely utilizing it to lift the stakes and frighten seemingly main aspirants out of the race,” a supply who pleaded to not be named mentioned.
Strengths and weaknesses
What is taken into account as his main energy can also be mentioned to be his weak point and that’s the indisputable fact that his standing because the son of the president is each a plus and a militating attribute which might work for him or towards him.
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