The Case For Ambode 2027: Why Lagos Deserves A Second Coming Of Visionary Leadership 

As 2027 draws near and conversations around the next governorship election gather momentum, it is both timely and necessary to revisit the Ambode legacy and make a bold, unapologetic call: Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode should re-contest and fly the APC flag once again.

A TRACK RECORD BUILT ON RESULTS

Unlike many whose leadership was long on promises and short on delivery, Ambode left office with tangible achievements visible across every division of Lagos. His administration didn’t just build roads or bridges,it also built confidence in governance.

From the Oshodi Transport Interchange to the Ajah Flyover, from the revitalization of inner-city roads in all 57 LGAs/LCDAs to the upgrade of water transportation systems, Ambode’s legacy in infrastructure remains unrivaled. The 114 Local Government Roads Initiative stands as a testament to his philosophy of inclusive development.

ECONOMIC REFORMER AND INNOVATOR

Under Ambode’s leadership, Lagos recorded unprecedented growth in its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), not by burdening the people with taxes, but by plugging financial leakages, digitizing revenue collection, and promoting entrepreneurship.

Through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), over 10,000 entrepreneurs were empowered, creating ripple effects in job creation and poverty alleviation. His administration actively attracted foreign investments and supported the informal sector that forms the backbone of Lagos’ economy.

A VISION FOR AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY

In a forward-looking partnership with Kebbi State, Ambode birthed the LAKE Rice Initiative, ensuring affordable rice supply and opening a new era of inter-state agricultural collaboration. He invested in farming settlements in Epe and Badagry, upgraded agro-processing facilities, and made attempts to reposition Lagos as an agric-industrial hub.

Today, with food prices soaring and urban hunger increasing, Ambode’s agric-based policies are more relevant than ever.

EDUCATION & YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Ambode believed in the future and he invested in it. Schools were renovated, teachers recruited, and digital learning tools introduced under the Code Lagos and Ready.Set.Work initiatives. LASU received significant upgrades, making it one of the best state-owned institutions in Nigeria.

At a time when Nigerian youths are demanding more opportunities, his vision offers a proven blueprint.

HEALTHCARE FOR THE PEOPLE

The expansion of Mother and Child Centres, upgrade of general hospitals, and launch of the Lagos Health Insurance Scheme under his administration proved his commitment to universal healthcare. The procurement of over 20 mobile clinics and hundreds of new ambulances improved emergency response in rural and urban areas alike.

In a post-pandemic era, Lagos needs a leader who understands health security and not one who learns on the job.

SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENT

Ambode equipped the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) with modern tools, vehicles, drones, surveillance systems and introduced the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps. Waste management was rebranded under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, positioning the state for a healthier environment and job creation.

With growing urban crime and environmental degradation, Lagos must return to a leader who prioritized the safety and sanity of its spaces.

FAIRNESS, EQUITY, AND ZONAL JUSTICE

Ambode, being from the Epe Division in Lagos East Senatorial District, restored confidence in rotational leadership. No other zone should be perpetually marginalized. His return will further deepen internal democracy and promote the inclusive governance Lagos needs to thrive.

POLITICAL REDEMPTION & PARTY UNITY

Ambode’s premature exit in 2019 was not a reflection of poor performance but was political. Yet, he accepted it with humility and dignity, refusing to work against his party or overheat the polity.

His return in 2027 will not only reinvigorate APC at the grassroots but also signal to the electorate that merit still matters in Nigerian politics.

THE TIME IS NOW

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is a silent achiever, a doer, not a noisemaker. Lagos is too important a state to be left to trial-and-error leadership. We need experience. We need vision. We need the proven.

As a public analyst and grassroots mobilizer, i interact daily with real people, not social media avatars, and what I hear consistently is this: “Ambode should come back.”

2027 offers Lagos a chance to self-correct, to place competence above politics, and to re-embrace a man who once led with clarity, character, and courage.

Let us jointly walk the talk not to miss the opportunity.

– Balogun Adekunle Hameed