Seven years after leaving office, Akinwunmi Ambode is back in political conversations.
The former Lagos governor, who served from 2015 to 2019, was the first sitting governor in the state to lose his party’s primary election. In 2018, he was defeated by Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The loss followed a breakdown in his relationship with key party leaders, including then APC national figure Bola Tinubu.
At the time, reports pointed to tensions over control of projects, contracts and grassroots structures. His decision to replace private waste contractors with a new operator led to a refuse crisis that hurt public perception. He also faced accusations of distancing himself from party power blocs. Despite the setback, Ambode did not defect to another party. He conceded defeat and completed his term quietly in 2019.
