APC insiders say Education Minister Tunji Alausa’s rising federal profile is quietly shaping succession talks ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship race
2027 Lagos Governorship: Insiders Tip Education Minister Tunji Alausa as Sanwo-Olu Successor
Fresh conversations around the 2027 Lagos State governorship race are quietly gaining momentum within the All Progressives Congress (APC), with insiders pointing to the emergence of influential figures positioning for life after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
At the centre of the growing succession whispers is Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, whose rising national profile is increasingly fuelling behind-the-scenes discussions within APC power blocs in Lagos.
Multiple party sources say Alausa’s visibility has expanded significantly in recent months, largely due to his central role in federal education reforms and sustained media attention surrounding policy shifts under his watch. That growing prominence, insiders argue, has injected renewed energy into informal but consequential deliberations about who takes over from Sanwo-Olu in 2027.
“One of the names being seriously discussed is Tunji Alausa,” a senior APC insider disclosed, stressing that the talks remain informal but strategic.
Another source noted that Alausa’s name has repeatedly surfaced in closed-door meetings — not as a loud aspirant, but as a figure around whom a quiet consensus could eventually crystallise.
Federal Role, Rising Influence
Alausa, a medical doctor and nephrologist, was redeployed in October 2024 from Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare to the Education Ministry, a move widely interpreted in political circles as a strong vote of confidence.
Since then, his public engagement has intensified, with frequent interventions on education policy, sector reforms, and national debates. Observers say this has helped elevate his standing beyond the technocratic space, positioning him as a potential political bridge between federal relevance and Lagos succession politics.
Party insiders further claim that Alausa enjoys strong backing at the highest levels of the APC, alongside what they describe as rare behind-the-scenes closeness to President Bola Tinubu.
Notably, sources say the subtle momentum around Alausa is not limited to the Presidency alone, with reported acceptance even among some figures whose names have also been mentioned as potential successors to Sanwo-Olu.
A Familiar Name in Lagos Succession Talks
Alausa is not entirely new to Lagos governorship calculations. He was quietly mentioned as a possible contender ahead of the 2023 election, before President Tinubu’s directive to “maintain the status quo” cleared the path for Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
That early consideration, insiders say, ensured Alausa’s name never fully disappeared from Lagos succession maps, even as he stayed largely outside overt political contestation.
No Public Declaration — Yet
For now, neither Alausa nor those reportedly encouraging him have publicly declared any ambition to govern Lagos State. However, within APC circles, his rising visibility, federal relevance, and perceived acceptability continue to strengthen whispers that the race to succeed Sanwo-Olu may already be taking shape.
Quietly. Strategically. And far from the public stage.
