Lagos Gubernatorial Race Heats Up: Seyi Tinubu, Gbajabiamila Among Frontrunners

With the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State still two years away, political maneuvering within the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already gaining momentum. Power blocs across the five IBILE divisions — Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe — are pushing for fresh representation, signaling what may become one of the fiercest political contests in the state’s history.

Emerging prominently in the conversation is Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Sources within the APC confirm a growing support base for Gbajabiamila, driven largely by his proximity to the Presidency and legislative credentials. Hon. Desmond Elliot, a Nollywood actor and Lagos lawmaker, is believed to be spearheading a quiet campaign advocating for Gbajabiamila’s emergence as the APC flagbearer.

“Gbajabiamila is not just a seasoned legislator. Now as Chief of Staff to the President, he has added executive experience. That is the kind of leadership Lagos needs,” said Famous Oloyede, an APC stakeholder from Surulere.

Despite the endorsements, not all voices within the party are convinced. Concerns about Gbajabiamila’s age by 2027 and the need for generational transition are gaining traction.

“He should stay back in Abuja and support the President. Lagos needs someone younger. It is also time another administrative district takes the seat,” a senior party figure told PUO Reports.

Power Shift Politics and the IBILE Equation

Political analysts note that since 1999, Lagos governorship has largely rotated between Lagos Island and Epe, with Governors Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu all hailing from these zones. This has rekindled agitations for more equitable distribution of political power across the remaining divisions.

In Epe, the abrupt end to Ambode’s governorship continues to spark calls for justice and political restoration. Attention is now turning to Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, who is viewed as a loyal and capable figure to represent Epe.

“Ambode was not allowed to complete his second term. Epe has been marginalised for years. It is time to correct that injustice,” declared Olugbede Adekalu, an APC chieftain.

In Ikorodu, which boasts one of the state’s highest voting populations, the quest for genuine representation has intensified. Although Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat hails from the region, many argue that Ikorodu is yet to hold the governorship in any meaningful sense. Names such as Rep. Babajimi Benson and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa are gaining traction for governorship or deputy governorship roles respectively.

“The 14-day tenure of Abiodun Ogunleye as deputy governor in 2007 cannot be considered real representation,” said a party insider from Ogolonto. “Ikorodu deserves more than symbolic appointments.”

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, is quietly building momentum. Though yet to make a formal declaration, a recent remark has sparked speculation.

“Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better off,” Obasa said at a public event, hinting at openness to the race.

In Badagry, long-standing grievances about exclusion from the governorship since 1999 are resurfacing. A senior APC member told PUO Reports, “Power should shift to Badagry now. They have never produced a governor.”

Seyi tinubu and the Unspoken Dynasty Question

The possible candidacy of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has become a delicate subject within the party. While no formal move has been made, several diaspora-based groups have thrown their weight behind his potential emergence. The silence of the Presidency on the matter has only fueled speculation.

The party’s apex decision-making body, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), is expected to play a crucial role in determining how the internal power dynamics will unfold.

The Role of the East and Other Emerging Names

Within Lagos East Senatorial District, which includes key LGAs like Epe, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Somolu, and Ibeju-Lekki, Senator Tokunbo Abiru is also quietly gaining support. Known for his technocratic background and financial sector expertise, Abiru is seen as a stabilizing figure in a potentially fragmented race.

With power blocs recalibrating, long-standing grievances resurfacing, and no declared frontrunner as yet, the battle for the 2027 Lagos governorship promises to be historic — not only in its scale but in its implications for the future political direction of Nigeria’s commercial capital.