Amidst the raging debate over a move for Seyi Tinubu, son of the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be presented as a candidate for the 2027 election, a group has emerged to demand the return of one-term Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.
Ambode was Lagos Governor from 2015-2019.
The Friends of Seyi Tinubu (FOST) last week stirred the hornets nest when they endorsed Seyi Tinubu as next Governor of Lagos State come 2027.
A statement by FOST President, Comr. Adejorin Tai Manuel said Seyi Tinubu’s philanthropic contributions, leadership acumen, and commitment to societal progress is evidence of his readiness to serve as governor.
However, according to the Lagos Residents Association (LRA), Ambode had the Midas touch to transform the state if given the second chance to complete the job he started before losing the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket over his bad blood between him and key party leaders.
The group has also volunteered to purchase the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for Ambode to contest the 2027 governorship election.
LRA President General, Dr. Olumuyiwa Adesanmi, in a statement of Monday, urged Lagos APC to give its governorship ticket to the former Governor.
Adesanmi said it is the constitutional right of the one-term governor to seek a second term, saying the circumstances under which he lost the party’s ticket for a second term was suspicious.
The group therefore urged the former governor to join in the race to succeed the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu whose second term in office will end in 2027.
Adesanmi said, “Former Gov. Ambode enjoys humongous support among residents of Lagos whose lives he touched positively while in office. We all understand how he lost his bid for a second term in office and not on the ground of performance.
“The legacy he left behind both in human capital development, infrastructure and total transformation of Lagos is still there for all to see.
“We residents of the state are solidly behind him and calling him to come back and complete what he has started in our dear state.”
