By EMMANUEL AZIKEN

With less than 10 months to the governorship elections, many aspirants have commenced subtle moves to outwit one another to clinch the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State and succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approved and issued a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

The Commission had earlier fixed Saturday, February 20 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, pursuant to the Electoral Act, 2022.

Following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced adjustments to statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral activities, the commission reviewed and realigned the schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework.

Accordingly, the Commission resolved as follows: Presidential and National Assembly Elections will now be held on Saturday, January 16, 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will be conducted on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

In accordance with the approved schedule of activities, the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from primaries, will commence on April 23, 2026, and end on May 30, 2026.

Aspirants jostle for Sanwo-Olu’s seat

Already, many aspirants have subtly thrown their hats into the ring on the platform of the APC.

the race include former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; former governor Akinwunmi Ambode; the current Deputy Governor, Dr Olufemi Hamzat; immediate past Head of Service of Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who is currently Principal Officer to President Bola Tinubu; Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa; the Lead Visioner of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, Dr Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor and the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

Hamzat

The current deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, is also said to be showing interest in taking over from his boss.

Sources close to the Presidency said Tinubu “has a soft spot for Hamzat because of his late father” and may anoint him for the top job.

Hamzat’s father was a close ally of the President before his death in 2019.

The late Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat was the Olu of Afowowa, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation (1979–1983), and a respected Alliance for Democracy, AD, chieftain.

If Hamzat emerges as APC flagbearer and wins the election, he would be the first deputy governor to occupy the seat in Lagos.

Gbajabiamila

Another bigwig in the race is Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu.

Prior to this, Gbajabiamila was Speaker of the House of Representatives and a leading politician from the constituency of Surulere.

As a powerful Lagos politician with vast experience in grassroots politics and visible constituency projects, Gbajabiamila is a forceful contender for the Lagos seat. He is definitely not one to underestimate despite his relative quiet approach to politics and a positive political resume.

Seyi

Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Tinubu, is also being touted to take over the Lagos administration after Sanwo-Olu.

Though a greenhorn in politics, Seyi has been able to establish a group of political loyalists at the grassroots.

It was also gathered that he enjoys the majority support from the Governors’ Advisory Council, GAC, the apex decision-making body for Lagos politics, created and controlled by his father. Seyi also has an impressive number of key council members in leadership.

Alausa

Also, Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, is another contender said to be eyeing the job. He was previously the Minister of State for Health and Social Services, both in Tinubu’s administration.

Tunji was appointed in 2023 to serve as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, and later redeployed to the Minister of Education in 2024.

Jandor

While declaring his interest sometime last year, Jandor, who has since defected to APC, said: “As for Lagos State, I am offering myself once again to serve. I’m indeed running for the Lagos governorship race in 2027.”

Various groups are already making a case for the former Head of Service in Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Okunola, to contest the 2027 governorship election.

One of such groups, the Action Grassroot Alliance, urged Okunola to throw his hat in the ring, saying he possesses the experience and capacity to lead the state in transparency and accountability.

Addressing newsmen in Ikeja, Director-General of the Action Grassroot Alliance, Mrs Salewa Adebenro, urged Okunola to heed what it described as a “call to serve,” stressing that Lagos requires competent and forward-looking leadership to sustain its growth.

Adebenro said: “Lagos is a symbol of opportunity and the economic hub of Nigeria. To sustain this momentum, the state needs a leader with proven capacity, a deep understanding of governance and the courage to drive innovation.

“The group is mobilising support across the grassroots to encourage Okunola to join the race.

Tinubu has the final say

Multiple sources told Vanguard that despite being an outgoing governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu does not have the wherewithal to anoint his successor in 2027.

Just like what happened in 2007 when then governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, was serving out his term, he could not produce his successor.

The same scenario will play out this time as sources close to the Presidency declared that President Tinubu will have the final say on who will take over the reins of power in Lagos State.

This paper was reliably informed that Tinubu will not hand over Lagos to an aspirant who has a structure.

Multiple sources said the President may not be “disposed to aspirants who already have strong structures in place.”

It was further gathered that Tinubu may “likely knock off aspirants like Obasa, Ambode and possibly Gbaja from the race.”

Another source, however, said that the President has not made up his mind on which of the aspirants he will hand over Lagos to, saying, “The President may change his mind and will announce Sanwo-Olu’s successor soon.”

Considering the sophisticated nature of Lagos politics and the need for continuity with expert leadership, the buck still stop at the President’s table.

Those who matter are watching, weighing every step, and waiting with bated breath for the direction the president would tilt. No wonder the political air is filled with unspoken ambitions.

Political analysts believed that the APC governorship ticket largely rest on the godfather of Lagos politics, Tinubu whose body language is still under study.

They stated that although aspirants have been wooing party chieftains and mobilizers, “President Tinubu stands at the threshold of a defining moment for his ennobling political career and legacy. As the undisputed leader of the Lagos political family, he must have a say in who governs the state that he set on the path of progress and prosperity during his tenure from 1999 to 2007. He cannot afford to get it wrong at this crucial time.”

Some political analysts have said the choice before President Tinubu is whether to support a technocrat, as some advocate, or reward a loyal politician who has strengthened Lagos’ political machinery, as others insist This dilemma sits at the heart of the 2027 Lagos succession debate.

Both arguments hold water. Fashola was not a popular lawyer when he was appointed as then Governor Tinubu’s Chief of Staff and was supported to succeed his principal in 2007.

Recall that their simmering feud blew open when Fashola unilaterally supported Supo Shasore to succeed him in 2015 against his benefactor and the party’s choice of Akinwunmi Ambode, who eventually won. Fashola is regarded as a technocrat in politics.

Everybody is being careful. Only God and Jagaban know the next governor in Lagos. Nobody wants to be too forward, in order not to burn his fingers. Though, the moves have started but no one is sure of who the real candidate is,” a party chieftain, said. (Saturday Vanguard)

Update news