The political bond within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State appears to be growing stronger, as evidenced by the recent reunion of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his immediate predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
In a rare and heartwarming moment, the two leaders were seen sharing smiles after a meeting on Monday. Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed his delight on social media, posting photos of the encounter and captioning them, “Today, I welcomed my brother and predecessor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, back to Lagos House on a courtesy visit. Our conversation centered around the future of Lagos and building on the solid foundation already in place. I value his perspective as we all work together to ensure that Lagos remains on the path of growth and development.”
This meeting marks a significant moment, as it is the first time in over a year that Sanwo-Olu and Ambode have been seen together publicly. Their last public appearance was at a reception in June 2023, held in honor of President Bola Tinubu at the Lagos House in Marina, where they were joined by another former Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola. That event was the first time in over four years that the three leaders had been seen together since internal conflicts rocked the state’s ruling political class.
A Brief History of the Rift
Ambode, who served as governor from 2015 to 2019, is the only former Lagos governor since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 to have served just one term. His predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, each served two terms, with Tinubu later becoming Nigeria’s president and Fashola serving as Minister of Works and Housing.
Ambode’s re-election bid in 2019 was thwarted during the APC primary due to internal party disputes, with Tinubu reportedly favoring Sanwo-Olu as his successor. Since leaving office, Ambode has largely stayed out of the political spotlight and has rarely been seen with his predecessors or the current governor.
Although there were rumors that Ambode might challenge Sanwo-Olu for the APC governorship ticket in 2022, those speculations were put to rest when his ally, Wale Oluwo, contested instead, ultimately losing to Sanwo-Olu. Notably, unlike Fashola and Sanwo-Olu, Ambode did not publicly endorse Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign nor comment on his victory.
However, signs of a possible reconciliation emerged when Sanwo-Olu attended Ambode’s 60th birthday celebration in Lagos on June 14, 2023. Monday’s meeting between the two leaders appears to be another step towards mending their relationship and strengthening the unity within the Lagos APC.
