By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Samuel Mawuyon Ajose and Akinwunmi Ambode |
IKORODU, LAGOS – In a dramatic political twist that will redefined the governorship race in Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode support group has endorsed the ambition of Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose (SMA) to become the next governor of Lagos State.
At a heavily attended mobilization rally on Sunday May 17, 2026 in Ikorodu ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections is Scheduled for Thursday, Ajose officially announced the endorsement of former Lagos State Governor’s support group.
Addressing a crowd of thousands of party faithful and grassroots supporters, an ecstatic Samuel Ajose revealed that the former governor has completely integrated his political networks across the state into the SMA movement to ensure a resounding victory at the primaries.
“We are not here alone today; we are here with the ultimate support of the support group of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and has declared their full support for us, and they are now working actively for our success,” Ajose declared to loud cheers.
Ajose further disclosed ambitious electoral targets stemming from the new alliance, pledging absolute loyalty to the national leadership of the party.
“They have also promised to add an extra one million votes to the three million votes we already promised our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
The high-stakes endorsement comes amidst widespread media speculation that Ambode had privately endorsed the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who is also widely tipped to run for the state's top job.
However, representatives of various Ambode Support Groups who were visibly active at the Ikorodu rally explicitly debunked those reports. Taking the stage, group leaders urged supporters to look past the political propaganda and remain firm in their choice.
“Do not be scared of anybody. Make sure you come out en masse to vote and endorse Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose,” an Ambode support group coordinator charged the crowd. “Most importantly, you must protect your votes. Do not allow anybody to tamper with the results when the primary begins.”
The Ikorodu mobilization rally turned into a carnival-like celebration, with attendees chanting solidarity songs for Ajose. For many residents of the IBILE divisions, the alliance between the Badagry-born Ajose and the Epe-born Ambode represents a powerful coalition of marginalized regions seeking a fairer share of infrastructural development.
Campaign coordinators maintained that the partnership is built on a shared blueprint for economic acceleration and inclusive governance, asserting that Ajose possesses the exact executive competence required to build on the state's existing legacies.