Lagos 2027: Who Will Succeed Sanwo-Olu?

With the 2027 governorship election drawing closer, the battle to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is beginning to take shape in Lagos. 

The contest is already attracting attention within the All Progressives Congress, APC, as several prominent names quietly position themselves for what is expected to be one of the most closely watched succession races in the country.

The renewed interest follows the revised timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Under the new schedule, the presidential and National Assembly elections are set for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will now be held on February 6, 2027. Party primaries are expected to run from April 23 to May 30, 2026, a timeline that has effectively forced serious aspirants to begin their calculations early.

APC Big Names Emerge in the Race for Lagos Government House

Several figures are already being linked to the race on the APC platform. Among the names being mentioned are Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, former Lagos Head of Service Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Education Minister Tunji Alausa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, Lagos4Lagos movement leader Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor, and Seyi Tinubu. The field is wide, but for now, most of the moves remain cautious and largely behind the scenes.

Hamzat 

Among the names receiving close attention is Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat. Sources cited in the original report suggest President Bola Tinubu may have a soft spot for him, partly because of the relationship he had with Hamzat’s late father, a respected political figure in Lagos. That connection is one reason Hamzat is being treated as a serious contender in the unfolding succession battle.

If he eventually secures the APC ticket and wins the election, Hamzat would make history as the first deputy governor in Lagos to move directly into the governorship. That possibility alone has made his name one of the most talked about in current political discussions around the state.

Gbajabiamila and Seyi Tinubu 

Femi Gbajabiamila is also widely seen as a heavyweight in the race. His years in national politics, his influence in Lagos, and his grassroots political structure make him difficult to ignore. Even though he is not seen as making loud public moves, his profile and political experience place him firmly among the strongest possible contenders.

Seyi Tinubu’s name continues to surface as well. Though still relatively new to frontline politics, he is said to have built growing grassroots loyalists and to enjoy meaningful backing in some powerful Lagos political circles. That support has kept him in the conversation, even as observers continue to debate whether political goodwill alone can carry him through a contest of this size.