Lagos 2027: Tinubu, Gbajabiamila, Obasa, Others Top List for Plum Job

Though the race for Lagos State governorship is still two years away, the gladiators are already girding their loins in readiness for a battle royale. Political stakeholders and groups across the state of aquatic splendour are already rooting for their preferred candidates.

Among the names already generating buzz are Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu; Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the president and former Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and other heavyweights.

But ahead of the election, the importance of the IBILE factor in Lagos has come to the fore like never before. Lagos is organised into five administrative districts, collectively called IBILE, namely Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe.

Society Watch reliably gathered that the political kingmakers in the state, particularly in the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), are already having sleepless nights on the best way out of the seemingly difficult task of picking the best candidate.

While Gbajabiamila’s sterling record as a seasoned legislator, rising to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to the president put him head and shoulder above the others, his age has become a factor. Gbajabiamila will be 64 in 2027, and reportedly seen to be ‘too old’ to govern a state so “complex and fast-moving like Lagos.”

However, his supporters are upbeat about his chances and are said to be banking on his close ties to the president and long-standing political experience, which they believe make him a strong contender for the plum job.

Aside from being the son of the president, not much has been said about the administrative experience of Seyi. But for his large crowd of supporters, he remains the best to bring the dreams of the founding fathers of Lagos state to fruition. It was gathered that a Seyi Tinubu-Mudashiru Obasa’s ticket is presently gaining momentum among political stakeholders in the state.

A source who pleaded anonymity claimed the re-instalment of Obasa as speaker of the state assembly after he was removed by his colleagues is part of the larger puzzle to fall into place.

According to the source, Seyi as the governorship candidate and Obasa as his deputy would be viewed as a formidable youthful ticket that will appeal to Lagosians.

“Seyi Tinubu may look so young, but he’s of age and experience to govern Lagos State,” the source said.

As the time ticks slowly towards 2027, the unfolding drama in Lagos politics will surely reset and redefine the political landscape and set a new tone for the future of Nigeria’s most strategic state.