Political Dynamics Shift in Lagos as Seyi Tinubu Faces Ambode Return Threa

Former governor Akinwunmi Ambode is making a comeback in political calculations as Lagos State’s 2027 general election gains momentum. Party power brokers are reportedly attempting to postpone Seyi Tinubu’s bid for governor until 2031.

With a number of well-known candidates, new power blocs, and an increasingly vocal electorate weighing in on the state’s future leadership, the election is expected to be among the most competitive in recent memory.

A number of youth and expatriate organizations are promoting Seyi, 40, the son of President Bola Tinubu, as a possible candidate for governor of Lagos State.

Organizations like The Future Platform, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, and certain Nigerian communities living abroad encouraged him to register his interest in the race last year.

According to reports, the development put the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in a difficult situation because Seyi hasn’t made his intention public or gotten his father’s support.

It is anticipated that Lagos State would have a new governor by 2027, as Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be finishing his second term in office, which is allowed under the constitution.

In order to make room for Seyi Tinubu in 2031, there are rumors that the state’s influential people are thinking of having Ambode return and finish his second term.

Recall that prior to the 2019 election, Ambode had a falling out with Tinubu and the leaders of the Lagos APC. As a result, Ambode was denied the APC ticket and lost the party’s primary to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who subsequently won the governorship vote.

According to sources, the GAC members are now attempting to postpone Seyi Tinubu’s campaign for governor until 2031, claiming the necessity of strategic planning and party continuity.

Seyi Tinubu was encouraged to maintain a low profile in order to focus on his father’s candidacy for a second term, despite his initial interest in the governorship, the source told our correspondent.

Segun Badejo, an APC leader in Gbagada, told our reporter, “The party leadership saw his ambition as a potential distraction to his father’s second-term dream, given the growing opposition to the current government.”

Former governors and deputy governors, former speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly, current and former senators, and esteemed elder statesmen and women make up the GAC, a potent 30-member political organization headed by Prince Tajudeen Olusi and founded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his time as governor of Lagos State in 1999.

Former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, as well as later Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, were all greatly influenced by the GAC.

A trustworthy insider claims that if President Tinubu is re-elected in 2027, he will finish his term by 2031, at which point Seyi Tinubu is anticipated to run for governor of Lagos in order to maintain his political legacy.

Anger in the Epe district over the events that resulted in Ambode’s removal from office was cited by another source as the cause.

Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe are the five districts that make up Lagos State’s administrative division, which is known as IBILE.

Notably, only Ambode, from Epe, was denied a second term; previous Lagos governors Tinubu, Fashola, and Sanwo-Olu, all of whom are from Lagos Island, served out their two mandates.

Stakeholders in Epe are upset about this because they don’t like how their local son, Ambode, was ousted from office.

The people are still calling for the zone to be allowed to finish its term, even though Tinubu eventually rewarded Epe with the appointment of Tunji Alausa as Health Minister and then Education Minister.

The incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, should be replaced in 2027 by either Alausa or Ambode, according to stakeholders who allege Epe has been politically marginalized.

“The idea is not to sideline Seyi Tinubu but to ensure he has a more stable runway,” said Ikeja, a key APC stakeholder in Ogba who asked to remain anonymous.

The Labour Party’s victory against Tinubu in the state in 2023 is not something the party wants to happen again.

For his father, Seyi must focus on organizing the youth front.

“Running for governor would split the public’s attention and cause outrage.”

Nigeria is a hilarious country; they might not tolerate a father serving as president and his son as governor. Ambode or Alausa are currently thought to have a stronger chance of winning the party in 2027, the source continued.

Heavyweights such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chief of staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the state assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Tokunbo Abiru, and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, also known as Jandor, are reportedly vying for the top spot in Lagos’ 2027 field.

“We have observed as other regions monopolized power,” said Olumide Balogun, a community leader. The Epe people need to be heard. Our next governor ought to be either Ambode or Tunji Alausa.

Edafe Oghenebrume, an observer, said that it would be disastrous if the Lagos APC did not choose a candidate for governor from the Lagos West Senatorial District.

“There might be electoral challenges if Lagos APC fails to field a governorship candidate from Lagos West Senatorial district because West has been marginalized as regards the governorship seat since the emergence of democratic rule in 1999,” he said.

Only Jandor, a former PDP candidate who switched to the APC in October 2025, has made his desire to become governor public.

In a Channels Television interview, Jandor stated, “I think Lagosians deserve a fresh vision, one that blends experience with innovation.”

“If I have the firm support of Mr. President and the Lagos State party, I am prepared to deliver answers that reflect the demands of the people, having seen administration from both sides of the aisle. It’s going to be easy,” he continued.

Voter perspective and public opinion

Many Lagos residents and voters have expressed a mixture of enthusiasm, cynicism, and cautious optimism as they constantly monitor the political machinations.

“It doesn’t matter who the party chooses,” stated Mrs. Funke Adeyemi, an Ikeja business owner. We want someone who will secure jobs, fix our roads, and bring about growth. Lagosians have had enough of empty promises.

Tunde Olanrewaju, another resident, highlighted stability and continuity.

“Tinubu has political ancestry, and Ambode has expertise in governing. However, we need real policies, not simply political showmanship,” he stated.

A more inclusive procedure seems to be highly desired by younger voters. “We need a leader who listens to ordinary people, not just party elders,” stated Chidera Nwosu, a college student. Beyond political calculations, the next governor must have a vision.

The journey to 2027

“The party must reconcile all interests while projecting a candidate capable of winning in a competitive general election,” said Taiwo Akorede, a political expert familiar with the party’s Kirikiri Town plan.

Lagos is preparing for the 2027 governorship election, which is expected to be one of the most intensely contested and widely observed in recent memory.

There is little doubt that Lagosians are keeping a close eye on the countdown to 2027.