Lagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu’s Gubernatorial Bid Faces Challenge as Ambode Considers Comeback

As the 2027 general elections approach in Lagos State, the political landscape is already heating up. Former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode appears to be making a comeback, with influential party stakeholders reportedly exploring strategies to defer Seyi Tinubu’s potential gubernatorial ambition to 2031.

The 2027 Lagos governorship contest is emerging as one of the most competitive in recent times. With multiple high-profile aspirants, influential political blocs, and a more vocal electorate, the battle for the state’s leadership is poised to attract intense scrutiny.

Seyi Tinubu, 40, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been identified by several youth organizations and Nigerian diaspora groups as a prospective candidate for Lagos State governorship. Last year, endorsements came from groups such as the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, The Future Platform, and segments of Nigerian communities abroad, urging him to formally declare his interest in the race.

However, this development has reportedly left the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in a political dilemma. Seyi Tinubu has neither officially announced his candidacy nor received any public confirmation or support from his father regarding the matter.

By 2027, Lagos State will require a new governor as Babajide Sanwo-Olu completes his constitutionally permitted second term. Sources indicate that political power brokers are exploring the possibility of Ambode returning to complete a second term, effectively paving the way for Seyi Tinubu’s gubernatorial run in 2031.

Ambode, who had a political fallout with Tinubu and Lagos APC leaders before the 2019 elections, was denied the APC ticket and subsequently lost the party primary to Sanwo-Olu, who went on to win the governorship. Insider reports reveal that members of the GAC are now actively working to delay Seyi Tinubu’s bid, citing party continuity and strategic planning as key reasons.

A senior APC figure in Gbagada explained, “Although Seyi was interested in the governorship earlier, he was advised to maintain a low profile to support his father’s re-election campaign. Party leadership saw his ambition as a potential distraction to President Tinubu’s second-term agenda, especially given growing opposition challenges.”

The Governance Advisory Council, a powerful 30-member body created by Bola Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos governor in 1999 and led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, includes former governors, deputy governors, past speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly, serving and former senators, and notable elder statesmen and women. The GAC has historically influenced the emergence of Lagos governors, including Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

An insider further revealed that if President Tinubu secures re-election in 2027, completing his tenure in 2031, Seyi Tinubu is expected to step into the Lagos governorship race to preserve his father’s political legacy.

The push for Ambode’s return is also partly driven by lingering resentment in Lagos State’s Epe district over Ambode’s previous ouster. Lagos is administratively divided into five districts collectively referred to as IBILE: Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe. Historically, Lagos governors—Tinubu, Fashola, and Sanwo-Olu—hail from Lagos Island and completed two terms, while Ambode, from Epe, was denied a second term.

Epe stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction, claiming political marginalization despite subsequent appointments, such as Tunji Alausa serving as Health Minister and later Education Minister. Residents argue that either Alausa or Ambode should succeed Sanwo-Olu in 2027 to ensure equitable political representation.

A senior APC insider in Ogba, Ikeja stated, “The aim is not to sideline Seyi Tinubu but to give him a more stable runway. The party wants to avoid the mistakes of 2023, when the Labour Party scored victories against APC in key areas. Seyi needs to focus on mobilizing youth support for his father. Running for governor now would divide attention and cause public unrest. Ambode or Alausa is strategically better positioned for 2027.”

The 2027 race in Lagos is already crowded with heavyweights such as President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Lagos State Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly called Jandor. Among them, only Jandor, a former PDP aspirant who defected to APC in 2025, has publicly declared his governorship ambition.

Jandor said in an interview with Channels Television, “Lagosians deserve a fresh vision, combining experience with innovation. Having observed governance from multiple perspectives, I am ready to offer solutions that reflect the people’s needs, provided I have solid backing from the President and the party.”

Public Sentiment and Voter Perspectives

Lagos residents and the electorate have closely monitored these political developments, expressing a mix of cautious optimism, skepticism, and excitement.

Mrs Funke Adeyemi, a shop owner in Ikeja, commented, “Whoever the party chooses, we want a governor who delivers development, improves roads, and creates jobs. Lagosians are tired of empty promises.”

Tunde Olanrewaju, another resident, emphasized continuity and stability: “Ambode has governance experience, and Tinubu carries political lineage. But we need practical policies, not just political theatrics.”

Younger voters are calling for more inclusivity in the process. Chidera Nwosu, a university student, said, “The next governor must listen to ordinary citizens, not only party elders. We need a leadership vision that extends beyond political calculations.”

The Road to 2027

A political consultant from Kirikiri Town, Taiwo Akorede, explained, “The party must reconcile diverse interests while projecting a candidate capable of winning a highly competitive general election.”

As Lagos prepares for the 2027 governorship election, the race is expected to be one of the most closely watched and fiercely contested in recent history. One certainty remains: the countdown to 2027 has begun, and Lagosians are observing every political maneuver with keen interest.