Akinwunmi Ambode, who served as the governor of Lagos State from 2015 to 2019, was denied a second term due to a disagreement with the leadership of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC). Could he make a comeback next year?
As delegates lined up to cast their votes at the governorship primary of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos in October 2018, a party leader issued a stern warning:
“We will not allow anyone here to vote for Governor Ambode,” he declared, adding: “That is the instruction from our leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
In the end, Ambode suffered a landslide defeat, securing just 70,901 votes against newcomer Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who garnered 970,851 votes and went on to win the general election. His loss was the biggest ever suffered by a sitting governor in Nigeria, underscoring Tinubu’s firm grip on Lagos politics — a dominance that dates back to 1999.
New push for Ambode’s return
Six years after his political downfall, there is growing momentum for Ambode’s return as governor in 2027 for a second and final term. Online campaigns have gained traction, while support groups have begun mobilising ahead of the primary, which is still a year away.
During the first three years of his tenure, Ambode was widely praised for his massive transformation of Lagos’ deteriorating infrastructure. The ever-busy Oshodi district underwent a facelift after $70m was spent on new bus terminals. Epe, once considered a backwater area, was modernised along with several other neglected communities.
“I must say that I am impressed with his performance, especially in infrastructural development,” said Bode George, leader of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, at the time.
In 2018, just a year before the election, elected officials in Lagos — including Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu — held a joint conference where they praised Ambode’s achievements and endorsed him for a second term.
However, within the APC, some party members accused him of arrogance and neglect. He was also labelled as “stingy” in a political culture where public funds are often used to sustain party machinery.
The waste management controversy
Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city, generates an estimated 14,000 metric tonnes of waste daily — 420,000 metric tonnes per month — making waste disposal a lucrative business.
The Lagos State government had long awarded waste disposal contracts to companies owned by APC leaders. However, Ambode introduced the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, awarding a sole waste management contract to Visionscape, a foreign-owned company.
This move angered APC-aligned contractors, who in turn frustrated Visionscape’s operations. As a result, heaps of refuse piled up across Lagos, obstructing traffic and creating public outcry.
Despite repeated appeals from party leaders to reverse his decision, Ambode remained adamant, prioritising governance over political alliances.
“Ambode is doing well, yes, but he hasn’t been a good party man,” Tinubu said, just days before openly endorsing Sanwo-Olu.
Rebellion within the party
Tinubu asked Ambode to step aside for Sanwo-Olu ahead of the primary, but Ambode refused. Instead, he held a press conference where he discredited Sanwo-Olu, alleging that he was once arrested in the US.
Determined to contest the primary, Ambode also accused the APC leadership of disenfranchising him and his supporters. This direct defiance was seen as an attack on Tinubu, who then mobilised his political influence against the governor.
Following his defeat, Ambode came under investigation by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which claimed to have frozen about $28m in an account linked to him. However, when investigators attempted to raid his home, his supporters repelled them, accusing Tinubu of orchestrating the probe.
Making amends
For nearly five years, Ambode remained estranged from Tinubu and the APC leadership. However, he has since begun making efforts to mend fences. He was recently invited to the Presidential Villa by President Tinubu, sparking speculation that he was being considered for a political appointment.
However, sources close to Ambode indicate that he is more interested in reclaiming the governorship than in accepting any federal appointment.
“Ambode never left the party and never insulted Tinubu. He never aligned with the opposition; he remained a loyal party member. So, it wouldn’t be out of place for him to return,” said Idowu Ajanaku, a former aide to Ambode who also worked closely with Tinubu.
Ajanaku also suggested that Ambode, who is constitutionally limited to just one more term, could potentially run on a joint ticket with President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, paving the way for a succession plan in 2031.
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