Against the background of Lagos politics, where defiance usually comes with a steep price tag, on April 29, 2026, Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose committed N50 million to purchase the APC governorship nomination form. This move, according to some, directly challenges the party's powerful Governance Advisory Council, which recently endorsed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the consensus choice.
For Ajose, this expensive wager is rooted in a quest for regional equity. His supporters in the Badagry Division argue that their region has been historically marginalised, having never produced a governor in the state's 57-year history. He frames his candidacy as a necessary push for fairness and justice within the ruling party.
Beyond regional sentiment, Ajose is positioning himself as a boardroom alternative to the career technocrats in Alausa. As the head of Levitical Groups, he cites his experience managing a large private workforce as proof of his economic competence. He argues that a self-made entrepreneur is better equipped to handle the state's complex financial landscape.
However, challenging the established order carries significant risks. The GAC and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have already signalled a unified front by collectively funding Hamzat's own form. In the disciplined hierarchy of the Lagos APC, such institutional alignments rarely leave room for independent incursions or unplanned primary battles.
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Ajose has dismissed the current consensus as a kangaroo arrangement, calling instead for a transparent direct primary. By rejecting the establishment's shortcut, he is tapping into internal sentiments that favour democratic competition over perceived impositions. He paints himself as a brave underdog fighting for the rights of all party members.
Despite his defiant posture, Ajose remains careful to align his ambitions with the federal centre. He has pledged to mobilise millions of votes for President Bola Tinubu's re-election, leveraging his ties with transport unions and religious networks. This dual strategy seeks to prove his utility to the party while contesting its local leadership.
Whether this N50 million investment is a calculated risk or a grave misreading of the political climate remains to be seen. In Lagos, elite consensus usually dictates the final outcome. For now, Ajose's move has successfully sparked a conversation, even as the establishment continues its march toward a pre-determined transition.
