All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos state, Samuel Ajose, has purchased the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms valued at ₦50 million.

The Badagry-born businessman  picked the forms personally in Abuja hours after the President Tinubu; Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex leadership body of APC in Lagos; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other chieftains of the Lagos APC endorsed the Deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as their preferred aspirant for the party’s ticket.

Ajose explained that his resolve remains rooted in service, anchored in a clear vision, and driven by one conviction that Lagos deserves development.

In a statement on his verified X handle formerly Twitter, Ajose said: “I have officially picked up my nomination and expression of interest forms, taking a definitive step forward in my aspiration to serve as Governor of Lagos State on the platform of our great party, the APC.

“This moment is bigger than a political process. It is a personal commitment to purposeful leadership, inclusive governance, and the kind of progress that every Lagosian can feel and point to.

“My resolve is rooted in service, anchored in a clear vision, and driven by one conviction; that Lagos deserves development which reaches every community, creates real opportunities for its people, and leaves no one behind.

“I begin this journey with humility, courage, and complete faith in God and in the good people of Lagos. Together, we are building something this state will be proud of.”

Ahead of the 2027 elections, Prophet Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, has said ‘not every governor in Nigeria will smile after the 2027 elections’.

In a recent statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, and sent to Legit.ng, Prophet Ayodele mentioned some of the states he claimed would be affected.

He said: Read more: “Not every governor will smile after the election. The following state governors are Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, Kano, and Kaduna.”

Legit reports that all the states mentioned by Prophet Ayodele are currently governed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The states are highlighted below:

Kano (Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf)

Kaduna (Governor Uba Sani)

Rivers (Governor Siminalayi Fubara)

Akwa Ibom (Governor Umo Eno)

Sokoto (Governor Ahmad Aliyu)

The decision by President Bola Tinubu to empower Governors to decide the fate of aspirants ahead of the 2027 general election is now causing unease in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

BusinessDay authoritatively gathered that following Wednesday’s closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Caucus, the President on Thursday, met with the Governors where he urged them to give soft landing to the law makers, while taking control of the election process in their states.

It was gathered that the lawmakers, ahead of the forthcoming party primaries in the APC had pleaded with the President to prevail on the Governors to grant them automatic tickets.

Their request was predicated on the earlier promise which they said was given by the President.

But Presidency sources said the Thursday meeting with the Governors was to plead with them on power sharing with the lawmakers.

According to the source ” The President reminded the lawmakers on Wednesday, that not all of them can come back to the National Assembly, even if he wants to help them

”Already, many had rotational arrangements which they know must be kept. Many of them have been there for years and others should be given an opportunity.”

BusinessDay gathered that the President is particularly under pressures from Senators who are insisting that they want to return.

BusinessDay gathered that some states are already embroiled in deep crisis as some Governors who want to come to the Senate are working to displace those currently occupying those positions.

Following the development, President Tinubu directed the party hierarchy to work with stakeholders in their states to resolve the issue to prevent it from snowballing into major crisis for the party.

The development may have been one of the direct fallout of the mass defections of Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the ruling APC.

It was gathered that many of the Governors apart from seeking for post 2027 soft landing, also demanded and got approvals to control the structure of the party in their respective states.

It was also gathered that apart from the challenges from the lawmakers requests, some of the Governors are also facing challenges from some party ” godfathers” in their states, over struggle for who produce the next Governors in their states

In Adamawa, the development has pitched Governor Ahmadu Fintiri against supporters of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser NSA, who was considered the leader of the APC before Fintiri joined the party.

It was gathered that while Ribadu and other party stakeholders in the state favours Ahmed Aminu Galadima, the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund PTDF for the Governorship position, Fintiri is insisting on being allowed to produce his successor

It is feared that the issue, if not properly handled, may lead to implosion in the party.

-Source: BusinessDay