– Kayode Alfred

Lagos 2027 is shaping up to be more thrilling than an Oworo danfo ride in rush hour, with more political giants secretly or openly jostling for the governor’s seat.

The latest lineup in this high-stakes game includes some of the biggest names in Lagos politics: Femi Gbajabiamila, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Mudashiru Obasa, and, yes, a familiar face, Akinwunmi Ambode. Each brings a unique story, a dose of ambition, and enough firepower to keep the APC hierarchy on its toes. Let’s start with Femi Gbajabiamila, the man who currently sits as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, wielding the kind of power that can make or break political careers.

Gbaja, as he’s popularly called, isn’t just any politician; he’s the man in Tinubu’s inner circle, privy to the President’s strategic plans and confidence, and holding the access keys to his eyes and ears.

His position as COS means he practically controls Tinubu’s “kitchen cabinet” and has the direct line to Aso Rock. Gbaja’s political journey has been a masterclass in building clout, with his swift rise to Speaker of the House of Representatives and now, the COS position.

If Gbajabiamila has his eye on Lagos, he has a potent mix of experience, loyalty, and insider power that makes him the ultimate contender. As it stands, never mind Tinubu’s blessings, you need Gbaja’s too to stand a chance. And if the man decides to bless himself, the rest might just be playing catch up.

Then there’s Hakeem Muri-Okunola, or HMO to those who track the power players of Lagos. Muri-Okunola has been Tinubu’s loyalist from the beginning, ever the “good son” of the Lagos political machine.

Appointed as the youngest Head of Service in Lagos State, Hakeem’s career is a case study in fast-tracking through the ranks under Tinubu’s tutelage. His loyalty to the Tinubu dynasty is legendary, and word has it that he’s banking on that unwavering fealty for a potential endorsement in 2027. After all, Tinubu has been known to elevate his loyalists, even at the cost of bending the rules, so why not now? The idea of HMO as the anointed successor has tongues wagging, and his ties to the corridors of power make him a wild card that Lagosians would be unwise to ignore.

Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is another contender with his eye on Alausa. Known for his sharp political instincts and an even sharper tongue, Obasa’s ambitions are no secret. Recently, he and his Assembly crew skipped a high-profile APC event, a move that raised eyebrows and fanned the flames of speculation.

To insiders, this was no ordinary absence; it felt like a thinly veiled statement of dissent. Obasa has a reputation for speaking his mind, and his conspicuous absence from APC’s South-West Assembly felt like a calculated snub, as if to remind the party he won’t be left out of the 2027 conversation. If Obasa runs, it would signal not just ambition but a potential rift within the APC ranks—a storm that could shake the party’s hold on Lagos.

And then there’s Akinwunmi Ambode, the former governor who served only one term before being shown the door by the same forces that propelled him to power. Ambode might be the wildcard Lagos politics needs right now, a man with a complicated history who commands deep respect among the grassroots. He’s still revered in places like Alimosho and Epe, where his tenure brought unprecedented infrastructure and development, and some would say he’s practically their “Messiah.”

There’s talk that Ambode could make another play for the governorship, perhaps even under a different party. If he does, his influence in Lagos’ populous areas might be the thorn APC can’t pull out easily. His candidacy would pose a serious challenge and not just in popularity.

There’s the religious factor too. Since Lagos has a Christian governor in Sanwo-Olu, the Muslim faction is making subtle cries of “Emilokan”. Ambode would represent a rallying point for the sizable contingent who wish to maintain the status quo. The political landscape becomes even more intriguing when one considers that not a single woman is on the list of likely contenders.

In 2027, almost 30 years after Nigeria’s return to democracy, the Lagos governorship race remains an all-boys club, as if the glass ceiling over Alausa’s seat is still bulletproof.

For all the power moves and bags of rice, if there’s one truth about this race, it’s that from Tinubu’s inner sanctum, Femi Gbajabiamila remains the frontrunner, the “crown prince” of Lagos in waiting. Seyi Tinubu, with his silent rice diplomacy, might be vying for public favor, but in a field of veterans, he’s a minor player, a young hustler who doesn’t yet have the gravitas to match these political giants.

When these aspirants were already household names, Seyi was still toasting girls in boarding school.

As Lagosians wait, listen, and speculate, one thing is sure: 2027 won’t be a boring year. Lagos’ political theater is set for a spectacular showdown, and this lineup of Gbaja, HMO, Obasa, Abiru, Hamzat, Ambode and the rest promises all the drama Lagosians love.

The question remains: who will emerge victorious, and who will be left licking their wounds in the wake of yet another bruising battle for Lagos’ crown?