BREAKING NEWS: Former Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode Declares Intention To Contest 2023 Lagos Governorship Election

The immediate past governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has hinted of his intention at contesting for the Lagos State Gubernatorial Elections.

This has put paid to the fact that really, he either nurses the idea of standing against the incumbent governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, or maybe supporting another, for the same office, but it is clearer now that with his intentions now known, Sanwo-Olu could be facing similar fate that befell Ambode in 2019 if the former governor aspiration to lead the state again materializes.

In a post today, Ambode thanked residents of the state for appreciating his efforts and contributions to the development of the state, with reports that The 58-year-old All Progressives Congress chieftain also charged youths to get their Permanent Voters Cards ahead of the 2023 general elections, noting that the power is now in their hands.

Ambode was Lagos governor from 2015 to 2019 and had lost his reelection to Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the APC primary due to internal wrangling in the Lagos APC, a situation which many believed at the time was spurred by the gang up by some party leaders and top civil servant against Ambode over his style of governance.

Ambode effectively became the first governor in the Lagos to spend a term in office since the country return to democracy in 1999 after he lost the primary election and the godfather of Lagos politics, Senator Bola Tinubu, threw his weight behind Sanwo-Olu. Like 56-year-old Sanwo-Olu who assumed office in May 2019, and would be finishing l his first term in office by May 2023, Ambode is constitutionally permitted to be in office for one more term of four years if the electorate so decide and he also threw his hat in the ring.

Before Ambode, the current Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, was Lagos governor between 2007 and 2015 while Tinubu was governor from 1999 to 2007, so, if Ambode’s recent ambition is anything to go by, this may give the incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu a run for his money and considering the fact that the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos may never give him their platform to run against an incumbent, one wonders if decamping to another party would be anything he might consider as he continues his consultation.