As the 2027 general election gathers momentum in Lagos State, former governor Akinwunmi Ambode is re-emerging in political calculations, with party power brokers said to be working to defer Seyi Tinubu’s governorship ambition to 2031.
The contest is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history, with several high-profile aspirants, emerging power blocs, and an increasingly vocal electorate weighing in on the state’s future leadership.
Seyi, 40, who is the son of President Bola Tinubu is being touted by several youth and diaspora groups as a potential contender for the Lagos State governorship.
Last year, there were endorsements from organisations such as the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, The Future Platform and segments of Nigerian communities in the diaspora who urged him to declare his interest in the race.
The development reportedly threw the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) into a dilemma, as Seyi has neither formally declared his ambition nor received any public endorsement or comment from his father on the matter.
By 2027, Lagos State is expected to have a new governor, as Babajide Sanwo-Olu would be completing his second and constitutionally permitted term in office.
However, there are feelers that the power brokers in the state are considering Ambode to return and complete his second tenure to pave way for Seyi Tinubu in 2031.
Recall that Ambode fell out with Tinubu and Lagos APC leaders ahead of the 2019 election and was denied the APC ticket, losing the party’s primary to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who went on to win the governorship poll.
Sources said the GAC members are now reportedly working to delay Seyi Tinubu’s governorship bid, moving it to 2031, citing a need for party continuity and strategic planning.
The source told our reporter that although Seyi Tinubu was interested earlier in the governorship race, he was advised to keep a low profile to concentrate on his father’s bid for a second term.
“The party leadership viewed his ambition as a potential distraction to his father’s second-term dream, given the growing opposition to the current government,” Segun Badejo, an APC chieftain in Gbagada, told our reporter.
The GAC, a powerful 30-member political body established by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State governor in 1999, led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, comprises former governors and deputy governors, past speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly, former and serving senators, as well as respected elder statesmen and women.
The GAC played a decisive role in the emergence of former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, and later Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to a reliable insider, if President Tinubu is re-elected in 2027, he would complete his tenure by 2031, and to sustain his political legacy, Seyi Tinubu is expected to step into the Lagos governorship race by then.
Another source attributed the reason to the anger in the Epe district over the circumstances that led to Ambode’s ouster from office.
Administratively, Lagos State is divided into five districts, collectively referred to as IBILE: Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe.
Notably, past Lagos governors, Tinubu, Fashola and Sanwo-Olu, all hail from Lagos Island and completed their two terms, while only Ambode, from Epe, was denied a second term.
This has sparked discontent among stakeholders in Epe, who are unhappy with the manner in which their native son, Ambode, was removed from office.
Although Tinubu later rewarded Epe with the appointment of Tunji Alausa as Health Minister and later, Education Minister, the people are still demanding that the zone should be allowed to complete its term.
Stakeholders are claiming that Epe has been politically marginalised and insisted that either Alausa or Ambode should succeed the current Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027.
A senior APC stakeholder in Ogba, Ikeja, who requested anonymity while speaking with DAILY POS said, “The idea is not to sideline Seyi Tinubu but to ensure he has a more stable runway.
“The party does not want a repeat of what happened in 2023 when the Labour Party defeated Tinubu in the state.
“Seyi needs to concentrate and mobilize the youth front for his father.
“Going for governorship would divide attention and that would also lead to public outcry.
“You know Nigeria is a very funny country, they may not stand the father as a president and his son as a governor. Right now, the consensus is that Ambode or Alausa has a better chance of carrying the party in 2027,” the source added.
DAILY POST observed that the 2027 field is already crowded in Lagos, with heavyweights including Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the state assembly speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, Tokunbo Abiru and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, among others, being touted for the number one seat.
A community leader, who identified himself as Olumide Balogun, told DAILY POST, “We have watched as other regions monopolised power. It’s time for Epe people to be heard. Either Tunji Alausa or Ambode should be our next governor.”
An observer, Edafe Oghenebrume, warned that if the Lagos APC fails to field a governorship candidate from the Lagos West Senatorial District, it would be a disaster.
He warned, “If Lagos APC fails to field a governorship candidate from Lagos West Senatorial district, there might be electoral challenges because since the emergence of democratic rule in 1999, West has been marginalized as regards the governorship seat.”
Meanwhile, only Jandor, a former PDP aspirant who defected to APC in October 2025, has publicly declared his ambition for the governorship.
“I believe Lagosians deserve a fresh vision, one that blends experience with innovation,” Jandor said in an interview with Channels Television.
“Having observed governance from both sides of the aisle, I am ready to offer solutions that reflect the people’s needs if I have a solid backing of Mr President and the party in Lagos State. It will be a walkover,” he added.
Public sentiment and voter perspective
Residents and electorate across Lagos have been closely watching the political maneuvering, with many expressing a mix of excitement, skepticism and cautious optimism.
A shop owner in Ikeja, Mrs Funke Adeyemi, said, “It doesn’t matter who the party chooses. What we want is someone who will bring development, improve our roads, and secure jobs. Lagosians are tired of promises without action.”
Another resident, Tunde Olanrewaju, emphasised continuity and stability.
“Ambode has governance experience, and Tinubu has political lineage. But we need practical policies, not just the spectacle of politics,” he said.
Younger voters appear keen to see a more inclusive process. A university student, Chidera Nwosu, said, “We need a leader who listens to ordinary people, not just party elders. The next governor must have a vision that goes beyond political calculations.”
The road to 2027
A political consultant familiar with the party’s strategy in Kirikiri Town, Taiwo Akorede stated, “The party must reconcile all interests while projecting a candidate capable of winning in a competitive general election.”
As Lagos gears up for the 2027 governorship election, the race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and fiercely contested in recent memory.
One thing is certain, the countdown to 2027 has begun, and Lagosians are watching closely.
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