By: Manoah Kikekon
BADAGRY, LAGOS – The political landscape in Lagos State has been hit by a wave of controversy as Aholu Agano Toniyon I, the Aholu of Agamathen Kingdom, officially disowned remarks attributing the title of "incoming governor" to Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.
The monarch’s rebuttal follows a highly publicised clarification by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC). Olusi had previously claimed that the "incoming governor" label which sparked a firestorm of succession debate did not originate from him, but was allegedly first uttered by a traditional ruler from Badagry during the recent IBILE Eko Summit at the MUSON Centre.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Badagry Today, Aholu Toniyon I dismissed the allegations, stating firmly that he never referred to Dr. Hamzat as the next governor. Instead, the monarch insisted that his address, delivered in both Egun and English, was purely an advocacy for the Badagry Division's turn to lead the state.
"I did not at any time refer to the Deputy Governor as ‘incoming governor,’" the monarch declared. "My message was clear and consistent. I spoke about the need for Badagry to take its rightful place in Lagos politics and specifically called for support for Samuel Mawuyon Ajose."
The monarch further challenged critics to review video recordings of the event, which are currently in the public domain, to verify that his endorsement was reserved exclusively for Ajose.
The controversy began after the General Assembly of Indigenous Associations, where the term "incoming governor" was linked to Hamzat, leading many to believe a formal endorsement had taken place.
In a statement to Daily Independent, Prince Tajudeen Olusi clarified that while the term was used at the event, it should be viewed as an "expression of aspiration" rather than a definitive political decree.
"To me, incoming means somebody who is on the way. That means that the person is still struggling to achieve something," Olusi explained, adding that the press and social media had "read all kinds of meanings" into a phrase he insists was first voiced by a Badagry traditional ruler.
With both the GAC Chairman and the Badagry Monarch now denying they were the originators of the "incoming governor" tag for Hamzat, the source of the remark remains a mystery. However, the fallout has underscored two major themes in the unfolding Lagos 2027 race:
1. The Badagry Agitation:Traditional rulers and stakeholders in the Badagry Division are increasingly united behind indigenous candidates like Samuel Ajose, demanding an end to regional developmental gaps.
2. The Succession Debate: The sensitivity surrounding Deputy Governor Hamzat’s potential candidacy shows just how closely political observers are watching the GAC for any signs of an official "anointing."