By Clement Abayomi
People in Lagos are already speculating on who could succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as his term will come to an end in 2027. Although the election is still in two years’ time, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun covert operations. As Qedng puts it, the race is expected to be among “Nigeria’s most closely watched political battles”, as several loyal supporters and technocrats are getting ready to fight for the governorship position in Lagos.
Simultaneously, opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC) are also preparing to challenge the APC’s long-time ruling of Lagos. Below are the popular speculations.
DR. KADRI OBAFEMI HAMZAT
Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, re-elected in 2023 alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is a technocrat with experience in engineering, finance, and public administration. He previously served as Commissioner for Science and Technology and later for Works and Infrastructure, leading major digital and infrastructural reforms in Lagos. Dr. Hamzat is a graduate from University of Ibadan with a Ph.D. from Cranfield. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. He is known for his visionary leadership, humility, and commitment to public service.
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As reported by ThisDay, Hamzat’s late father, Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, was one of the founding pillars of Justice Forum, a major political organisation that was instrumental in producing the present APC. Hamzat has been considered a continuity candidate, one who has worked as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under Babatunde Fashola and as Commissioner for Science and Technology under Bola Tinubu.
As Qedng makes known, no deputy governor has ever succeeded an outgoing governor in Lagos. This is to say that if Hamzat becomes the next Lagos State governor after Sanwo-Olu, he would be the first deputy governor to ever be in that position. His biggest challenge, however, has been considered as the need to convince powerful party figures that continuing with him after Sanwo-Olu would mean more of stable and effective leadership.
HON. MUDASHIRU OBASA
Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, born on November 11, 1972, is the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Agege Constituency 01. He is a graduate of Lagos State University and the Nigerian Law School. He has chaired several key committees and holds the record as the first person elected Speaker of a State Assembly three times in Nigeria. Obasa is known for his community impact, initiating the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and various youth and education empowerment programmes. He has received multiple awards, including Best Speaker of the Year, and enjoys football, reading, boxing, and mentorship.
ThisDay describes Obasa as a force with considerable grassroots influence, supported by his long legislative tenure since 2007 and his survival of a 2025 impeachment attempt. According to ThePAPERS, he is said to have started covert meetings to get the APC ticket. He is also reported to be strongly linked with the Mandate Group loyal to President Tinubu. As explained by ThePAPERS, Obasa faces resistance from the current governor, partly due to strained relations over the state Assembly’s rejection of some commissioner nominees. Nonetheless, Obasa’s political background and power in Lagos’s House of Assembly make him a major contender who cannot be ignored.
TOKUNBO ABIRU
Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru is a retired banker. He is now a legislator for Lagos East. Abiru is the former Managing Director of Polaris Bank and Executive Director at First Bank. With over three decades of experience in finance and leadership, Abiru is known for his role in stabilising Nigeria’s banking sector and his commitment to public service.
Tokunbo Abiru has been identified as one of the political figures who might succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is seen, according to Qedng, as “a favourite among Lagos’ business elite”. Abiru’s career history, having been Finance Commissioner under Fashola, along with his time as Group Managing Director at Polaris Bank, certainly lends him respect amongst Lagos’ elites. ThePAPERs notes that he has gained trust from numerous APC supporters in Lagos East. However, whether his corporate orientation will win votes for him or not has been a question on the mind of many.
FEMI GBAJABIAMILA
Femi Gbajabiamila, born on June 25, 1962, is a lawyer and politician currently serving as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Before his appointment in June 2023, he represented Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, where he served six consecutive terms and was Speaker of the 9th Assembly from 2019 to 2023. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos and John Marshall Law School, Atlanta. Gbajabiamila built a successful legal career in the U.S. before returning to Nigeria to join politics. He is renowned for his legislative leadership and commitment to democratic values.
Speculations are being made that his closeness to the top gives him a real advantage within APC’s power structure. However, Gbajabiamila has been identified as having low grassroots engagement. As the ThePAPERS directly puts it, “he is not the people’s choice in Lagos”. This suggests that influence at the national level might not automatically win over support back home.
HAKEEM MURI-OKUNOLA
Hakeem Muri-Okunola, born on January 7, 1972, is a Nigerian lawyer and public administrator. He is currently serving as the Principal Secretary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Muri-Okunola is a graduate of Lagos State University and the University of London. He began his career as an associate solicitor before joining the Lagos State Civil Service, where he rose through the ranks to become the 22nd Head of Service. Muri-Okunola is a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Lands and Youth Development. He is popularly respected for his leadership, policy innovation, and dedication to public service.
ThePAPERS points out Dr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola (HMO) as one of the political figures who may likely succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Hakeem Muri-Okunola is said to have had Tinubu’s confidence and could be a secret contender. His understanding of Lagos administration has been said to give him an edge. Athough, according to ThePAPERS, regional factors might influence how suitable he is.
Other prominent figures include Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, who is believed to represent the younger generation within the ruling structure; Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who could emerge as Lagos’s first female governor candidate; and Oluranti Adebule, the former deputy governor turned senator, whose experience within the executive arm as well as law-making process bolsters her qualifications. Also, rumour has it that Akinwunmi Ambode, the ex-governor whose reelection was cut short back in 2019, might be planning a comeback.
On the other side of the political fence, Qedng points to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Funso Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suggesting that they bring something worthwhile to the table. GRV is remembered for finishing second-place in the last election under the Labour Party, and he is said to be popular among young voters. Doherty, a financial guru with a solid reputation, is perceived as a serious contender. Nevertheless, the power of the APC remains a significant hurdle for these political figures to overcome.
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In summary, the competition to replace Babajide Sanwo-Olu will most likely depend on three things. First, loyalty to President Tinubu; second, strong grassroots support; and third, how capable each candidate appears. According to ThisDay, Lagos politics is driven more by alliances than by personalities. Whoever wins will shape not just Lagos’s political image, but its future direction.
