Tension is rising within the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, as one of its aspirants, Samuel Ajose, openly rejected moves to impose a consensus candidate.
Ajose accused the state’s Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, of avoiding a direct contest by pushing for consensus instead of participating in party primaries.
He made this known during an appearance on Politics Today aired on Tuesday.
Speaking during the interview, Ajose did not hold back. He questioned the legitimacy of the process being promoted within the party. “We understand what consensus means. Consensus says that every aspirant who has picked the party nomination form must consent to it. We don’t know why Hamzat is scared of going into the primaries,” Ajose stated.
He stressed that the party’s internal rules are clear on how candidates should emerge. According to him, any aspirant who believes in their political strength should be willing to face the ballot within the party structure. “If you are big, you have the popularity, the networks and the grassroots support, then let’s go into the primaries. Why is everybody scared of the primaries? Everybody must go into the primaries; that is what the constitution says,” he added.
Ajose also criticised recent endorsements backing Hamzat. He described the move by the Governance Advisory Council and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as a “kangaroo endorsement.” According to him, the decision did not follow due process and excluded other aspirants in the race.
He argued that such endorsements undermine internal democracy within the party. Ajose claimed there was no proper gathering involving all aspirants before the alleged adoption of a consensus candidate. He maintained that the process lacked transparency and fairness.
Beyond party politics, Ajose suggested that public sentiment in Lagos may also influence the outcome of the next election. He claimed that many residents are dissatisfied with the current administration and are seeking a different direction for the state.
The controversy comes amid reports that the Governance Advisory Council, regarded as the highest decision-making organ of the APC in Lagos, endorsed Hamzat as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election. The reported decision was said to have been reached during a meeting held at Lagos House in Marina.
