Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu may have to fight the political battle of his life yet to have his name on the ballot once again as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial polls in Lagos despite being an incumbent.
This is as reports had emerged that plans are allegedly underway to muscle out Sanwo-Olu and give him the same treatment that kicked out his immediate predecessor, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode from office, notwithstanding his popularity among Lagosians and fair score card. Recall in 2019, Ambode could not make it past the primaries as the powers that be in Lagos ensured Sanwo-Olu got the APC’s ticket ahead of a seating Governor, an unsual development in Nigerian politics.
Lagos State is the economic nerve centre of the country, hence making the politics of the state intriguing amid much vested interests.
Many political analysts have begun to give their takes on the factors that could determine the tide of events in the upcoming 2023 governorship election in Lagos State.
A major talking point is whether the Governor would be able to get a second term ticket to contest for the highest seat in the state.
In 2019, Sanwo-Olu was given a nod by one of the national leaders of APC and two-time Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed Ambode, who was said to have failed to manage relationships that would be needed to survive the landmines in the politics of re-election. Meanwhile, speculation is rife now that Sanwo-Olu may also be dropped.
According to reports, Sanwo-Olu was said to have agreed to an understanding that he would only serve a term in the build up to the 2019 governorship election.
It was gathered that there have been schemings and plots to usurp Sanwo-Olu in order to make his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat the APC’s flagbearer for the 2023 governorship election.
The tides of event in the recently concluded local government elections in the state might have added fire to the speculations about the future of the Lagos Governor as he wasn’t given any slot to produce a Councillor let alone chairman, according to media reports.
Hamzat was reportedly appointed to oversee the nomination and conduct of the local government election, while Sanwo-Olu, the number citizen in the state was conspicuously left out.
Hamzat was able to force-in some of his men and loyalists in Epe, Ikosi-Ejinrin and some other local governments across the state, which many political analysts had analysed to be a move aimed at solidifying his chances of becoming the Lagos State Governor in 2023.
It was also reported that Hamzat’s blood brother, Usman Akanbi Hamzat was elected the chairman of his traditional local council of Ifako- Ijaiye where his late father, Oba Olatunji Hamzat held sway as the leader of the Justice Forum before he was installed as a traditional ruler in Ewekoro.
Also, Seyi Tinubu, son of APC Chieftain, Tinubu, widely described as a ‘Political Godfather in Lagos’ is reportedly eyeing the governorship seat. Recently, Seyi has been gaining much attention in the political world as many people in the Lagos APC were said to have been calling on him to run for a political office in 2023.
While Seyi’s ambition on the political turf is not yet clear or defined, it appears all things are beginning to work together for the emerging conspiracy to deny Sanwo-Olu the chance to contest in the 2023 election on the platform of the ruling APC, leaving the Governor’s political fate in the hands of God and destiny.
