On March 11th 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states will head to the polls to reinstate or vote in new governors, including Lagos State. Lagos is Nigeria’s most populous state and largest economy. Whichever governor wins the 2023 election will face deep structural challenges to improve the state economy. Lagos’ population has grown extraordinarily fast and its infrastructure has not kept pace leading to chronic traffic and high unemployment.
Babjide Sanwo-Olu:
Sanwo Olu, 57, is the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate and the incumbent candidate. Sanwo-Olu previously served as the treasurer at the former Lead Merchant Bank from 1994-1997 after which he moved to the United Bank for Africa as the head of the foreign money market. He entered politics in 2003 when he was appointed Special Adviser on Corporate Matters. He was later appointed commissioner for commerce and industry under then-Governor Bola Tinubu. Some of his achievements include the supervision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Privatisation projects and the LAGBUS system. He founded and was the first-ever Board Chairman of Lagos Security Trust Fund, a body that seeks to fund security personnel of Lagos State. He was the only candidate cleared by the APC’s electoral committee and won the APC ticket unopposed.
Gbadebo Patrick Rhodes-Vivour:
Gbadebo Patrick Rhodes-Vivour also known as GRV, 39, is the youngest candidate in Lagos’ gubernatorial election and represents the Labour Party (LP). He comes from a family of lawyers, his father is a Barrister and his mother is a former Supreme Court of Nigeria justice. Rhodes-Vivour has been active in causes that directly affect Nigerian’s everyday lives. For example, he is the convenor of Nigerians against GMOs, an organisation that campaigns against the proliferation of genetically modified foods. On World Malaria Day in 2022, he partnered with WellaHealth to offer free health tests and insurance to 1 million Lagos residents (with voter cards). Rhodes-Vivour and the LP have grown in popularity following Obi’s victory of the state at the presidential level.
Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran:
Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran popularly known as Jandor is the gubernatorial candidate representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Privately, Jandor is a businessman and holds executive positions in many companies. He is currently CEO and Chairman of Core Media Group, and Chairman of Datanet Project Services, an oil installation, and procurement services company and he runs the Jandor Foundation, a private nongovernment organisation aimed at helping the disenfranchised of Lagos. His public service began as lead convenor for the Lagos4Lagos foundation, an entity that evolved from his Jandor Foundation. The organisation focuses on developing and aiding Lagos for Lagosians, whether it’s public service projects or lobbying efforts. Officially it does not recognise a single party and provides scholarships and grants to young individuals and business loans to small businesses. His running mate is popular actress Funk Akindele who joined his campaign to bring positive change to women and young people of Lagos.
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