JUST IN: Lagos APC throws governorship seat open ahead 2027
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally declared the 2027 governorship race open to all qualified members, signaling a potentially wide-open contest in the race to get a credible candidate to succeed the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
It added that the candidate for the party would emerge through direct primaries, while also allowing for consensus arrangements where broadly accepted.
The Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, disclosed this on Thursday through a statement published on his social media handle.
“Our primaries are for all members,” Ojelabi stated, emphasizing that no aspirant has been endorsed for any position.
“All available positions are open for contest as the party has no anointed candidate for any seat.”
The declaration effectively throws the Lagos governorship race wide open ahead of the 2027 general elections, marking a shift from previous cycles often characterized by strong party influence in candidate emergence.
According to the chairman, the party will prioritize direct primaries in line with provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, allowing registered members to participate directly in the selection of candidates.
However, he noted that consensus candidacies would still be considered, provided they emerge through voluntary agreement among stakeholders.
As gathered, this dual approach could intensify internal competition while preserving room for negotiation among influential blocs within the party.
Ojelabi, meanwhile, stressed that aspirants would bear the financial responsibility of their ambition, stressing that nomination and administrative fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.
Despite this, he assured members of a transparent and fair process, saying we will give all members a level-playing field to contest… in a free, fair and transparent manner.
In a notable move, the party leadership pledged “special consideration” for female aspirants, aligning with broader calls for gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
Sources said that this could see increased participation of women in both legislative and executive contests across the state.
As the party awaits detailed guidelines from its national leadership, members have been urged to maintain decorum and unity.
“We will not engage in imposition of candidates and neither will we influence the outcome of the primaries,” Ojelabi added, reinforcing the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
