Political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election in Lagos State are shifting, with former governor Akinwunmi Ambode re-emerging as a key figure and reports indicating that Seyi Tinubu’s governorship ambition may be deferred until 2031.
The evolving situation reflects intense negotiations within the ruling All Progressives Congress as the state prepares for a transition after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu completes his second term.
As discussions intensify, Lagos is shaping up for one of its most competitive governorship contests in recent years. Several high-profile aspirants and influential political blocs are positioning themselves, while party leaders weigh strategic considerations ahead of the election.
Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, has been widely mentioned as a potential governorship candidate. Youth groups and members of the Nigerian diaspora have publicly encouraged him to contest, with organisations openly calling on him to declare his ambition.
Despite the growing public support, Seyi Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to run. There has also been no public endorsement from President Tinubu, a situation that has reportedly complicated internal party deliberations.
Within the APC, attention has turned to the powerful Governance Advisory Council, a 30-member body led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi. The council is said to be grappling with how best to manage succession politics in the state while maintaining party stability.
Sources familiar with internal discussions indicate that the GAC is considering a political comeback for Ambode. The proposal reportedly involves allowing the former governor to return and complete a second term, thereby postponing Seyi Tinubu’s possible bid until 2031.
Ambode served as Lagos State governor from 2015 to 2019 but was denied the party’s ticket for a second term. He lost the APC primary to Babajide Sanwo-Olu following a fallout with President Tinubu and party leaders, marking a rare interruption in the state’s tradition of two-term governors.
Party insiders suggest that bringing Ambode back could help restore internal balance and address grievances, particularly in Epe, his home district. Stakeholders from the area have continued to express dissatisfaction over Ambode’s removal from office in 2019.
Notably, former governors Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu all hail from Lagos Island and completed two terms in office. Ambode remains the only governor from Epe who was unable to complete a second term, a situation that has fuelled calls for political inclusion.
Although President Tinubu later appointed Tunji Alausa, also from Epe, as Minister of Health and later Minister of Education, local leaders argue that the zone deserves the governorship seat in 2027. They insist that either Ambode or Alausa should be considered as Sanwo-Olu’s successor.
Party leaders reportedly advised Seyi Tinubu earlier to maintain a low profile and focus on supporting his father’s second-term presidential bid in 2023. According to APC sources, there were concerns that his ambition could distract from broader party objectives at the time.
That advice is said to have contributed to the delay in his public declaration. Within the GAC, there is now a growing consensus that 2031 would offer a more favourable and less controversial entry point for Seyi Tinubu into the Lagos governorship race.
Some party insiders argue that presenting both father and son as president and governor simultaneously could provoke public backlash. They believe a more gradual transition would strengthen party unity and electoral prospects.
Concerns have also been raised about the APC’s performance in Lagos during the 2023 elections, when the Labour Party defeated President Tinubu in the state. Party strategists are reportedly keen to avoid a repeat by fielding a candidate with broader acceptability in 2027.
Meanwhile, the 2027 governorship field in Lagos is becoming increasingly crowded. Names being mentioned include Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.
Jandor, a former PDP governorship aspirant who defected to the APC in October 2025, is currently the only aspirant to have publicly declared his intention to contest. He has described himself as ready to offer a blend of experience and innovation in governance.
Observers have also warned that failing to field a candidate from certain districts could pose electoral risks. Some analysts argue that the continued marginalisation of Lagos West in the governorship race could create challenges for the ruling party.
For now, discussions within the APC continue as power brokers attempt to balance ambition, zoning, and party unity. While Seyi Tinubu remains a prominent figure in future calculations, current signals suggest that attention may shift toward Ambode or another consensus candidate as Lagos moves closer to 2027.
