Samuel Mawuyon Ajose has emerged as the only governorship aspirant willing to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) ‘s consensus endorsement of Obafemi Hamzat in Lagos ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Ajose, a businessman, has become one of the most outspoken critics of efforts within the party to produce a consensus candidate for the Lagos governorship race. He has in recent interviews and statements, rejected the idea of an imposed consensus arrangement, insisting that all aspirants should be allowed to compete in transparent party primaries.
According to him, any consensus process must receive the approval of every aspirant involved rather than being dictated by influential party figures.
Ajose further accused Hamzat of being “scared of primaries,” arguing that candidates claiming broad grassroots support should willingly test their popularity through internal democratic processes. To show he is not joking around, Samuel Ajose recently held a well-attended rally in Lagos despite other aspiranta backing down.
Ajose has also found himself at the centre of a misinformation controversy after a statement circulated online claiming he had endorsed Hamzat and aligned with an alleged decision by the Lagos APC Governance Advisory Council (GAC). He quickly distanced himself from the statement, describing it as “false,” “malicious,” and unauthorized.
The governorship aspirant threatened legal action against individuals and media organizations responsible for circulating the document, saying attempts were being made to misrepresent his political position ahead of the APC primary process.
Who Is Samuel Ajose?
Samuel Ajose is the chairman of Levitikal Group, a real estate firm who hails from the Badagry Division of Lagos State and has increasingly positioned himself as a grassroots-oriented political figure advocating broader inclusion within Lagos politics.
Over recent months, Ajose has intensified consultations with party stakeholders and community leaders across Lagos, particularly within Badagry, where he has argued for stronger political representation for the division in the state’s leadership structure.
His campaign messaging has focused heavily on themes such as inclusive governance, purposeful leadership, youth participation, and development for underserved communities. Through what supporters describe as the “SMA Movement,” Ajose has sought to build a grassroots political network ahead of the APC primaries.
Ajose formally entered the race after purchasing APC nomination and expression-of-interest forms reportedly worth ₦50 million. Despite his criticism of consensus politics, he continues to portray himself as loyal to the APC and aligned with the broader political legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while advocating internal democracy within the party.
The growing attention around Ajose reflects wider debates within Lagos APC over succession planning, elite influence, and the balance between party control and competitive primaries as political positioning ahead of 2027 intensifies.
