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In The Race For LAGOS Governorship
In the last few weeks, a lot has happened in Lagos politics, especially as leaders of the All Progressing Congress hope to determine the successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. There are several politicians who have been tipped in the past as likely successors, but the decision has been made by the highest political power in the state.
There are two All Progressives Congress groups in Lagos: The Mandate Group and The Justice Forum. The Justice Forum is headed by Hon. James Faleke, while the Mandate Group is led by Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, popularly called Baba Eto.
For the past few years, the two groups have been at loggerheads over who controls state politics in Lagos. Shortly after Hon. James Faleke was appointed the coordinator, the Justice Forum was determined to go toe-to-toe with the Mandate Group because they have always been favoured in the scheme of things in Lagos. Although they produced some governors, starting with Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, they currently produced the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
In every election cycle in the state, JF and TMM consistently demonstrate strength over who should control the politics of the Lagos APC in terms of influence and decisions. This often reaches a level where the highest decision body in the party, the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), becomes polarised along group interests.
Did you know that shortly after the appointment of Hon. James Faleke as coordinator of Justice Forum (JF), they officially commenced mobilizing for future elections, with plans to field the next governor of Lagos State in 2027.
The Justice Forum’s leadership, including former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, Olorunfunmi Basorun, Chief Rabiu Oluwa, Alhaji Alabi Macfoy, and Otunba Oladele Ajomale, urged members to work diligently, mobilize for the party, and ensure victory in the upcoming elections. They emphasised the importance of avoiding the mistakes of 2023, which resulted in APC’s loss in the presidential election, urging a renewed commitment to the party and the group.
One significant thing is that the two political caucuses often time, pledge their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu whom they perceive as their unifier and benefactor. Secondly, both groups lay claim to huge grassroots presence and followership.
The Justice Forum (JF) is a prominent, deeply rooted political bloc within the Lagos State APC, often acting as a “gerontocratic monitor” of the party’s democratic processes. Established after the annulment of the June 12 election, it is known for promoting internal democracy, APC candidate endorsement, and grassroots mobilization.
The group has a formal structure, with a commissioned state secretariat and a constitution to guide its operations. It is known to operate in tandem with other party structures rather than as a rival, often aligning behind candidates selected by party leadership. It acts as a major power broker, with members including high-profile politicians such as former Governor Babatunde Fashola and former Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
The group is actively mobilizing for the 2027 elections to secure APC victories, including supporting Hamzat’s governorship ambitions.
While The Mandate Group is also a highly influential political faction within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), primarily aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Often characterized by its, or its successor/related faction’s, “master calculator” approach to elections and internal party politics, it focuses on party structure, mobilization, and securing key appointments.
It has long held significant sway over the party structure, with a history of controlling key positions in local governments, such as in the Kosofe Local Government Area.
The group has traditionally been aligned with BAT acting as a powerhouse within Lagos politics. Key members have included notable political figures who often maintain a loyal base within the party.
Despite being officially banned or ordered to dissolve by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) in 2020 along with the Justice Forum to maintain unity, the group and its, or its related movement’s, activities have continued or reorganized, leading to internal challenges over candidate selection in places like Kosofe.
Few years back, when Hon Faleke was just appointed coordinator of Justice Forum, the two groups started attack on each other, each claiming superioty and threw tantrum at each other at the seperate venue as they claimed to be the dominant and overarching group in the Lagos APC.
During a prayer session for President Tinubu’s 72nd birthday, there was a prayer session for him. The first to hold prayer session was the Mandate Movement which has as its leader, a GAC member, Cardinal James Odunmbaku (Baba Eto). The group which held its prayer session at Oduduwa way in the GRA area of Ikeja, has the backing of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, the Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr Tayo Ayinde, former Minister of Works, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, the State Party Chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi and other notable Lagos political bigwigs.
Addressing the gathering, Obasa charged members of the group to begin to hold meeting twice a month after Ramadan, adding that they should openly declare their support for Mandate Movement in their various local councils.
He explained that the group is loyal to the President, adding that the group respects the party. “We respect our party leadership. We are APC members. We belong to Tinubu and we are guided by his political philosophy. If our party (APC) Chairman summons us today, we will go because we respect the State Chairman. So, don’t be scared to openly say you are members of Mandate”, Obasa told the attendees.
In his remarks. Ayinde explained that The Mandate Movement would continue to stand by the President, adding that Tinubu had shown capacity and competence. Ayinde added that the Prayer Session was neccessary to celebrate Tinubu’s birthday and pray for his continuous success in the running of the country’s affairs. He expressed confidence that Tinubu would lay strong foundation for the country’s development and that his successor after 8 years would continue from there.
In his comments, Odunmbaku told the attendees not to be scared of openly supporting the Mandate Movement, adding that they would end up becoming beneficiaries of the Movement. He said the Movement has the backing of major stakeholders in Lagos APC, urging the members not to be swung by any propaganda.
Meanwhile, the Justice Forum has the strong backing of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Chairman of the GAC and close ally of President Tinubu, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, former Lagos APC and Commissioner under Tinubu in 1999, Otunba Henry Ajomale, former Deputy Governors, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Mrs Joke Orelope, Mrs Sarah Sosan, GAC member and former Secretary to the State Government, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, GAC member, Otunba Bushira Alebiosu, former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, amongst others. The group which held its own prayer session in a hall at Agidingbi road, Ikeja, believed they cannot be cowed to submission in the party.
Addressing the gathering, Prince Olusi, said that the group was the first to come up in Lagos APC, adding that it was a political group that produced Asiwaju Tinubu as Governor in 1999.
Olusi said that those who control the Lagos APC were majorly in Justice Forum, adding that it was a group that gives equal opportunities to all. He acknowledged the spread of the group’s membership at grassroots, urging the members to continue to hold their meetings.
“ Some people in our party do not know the history of Lagos APC. Those who know decided to claim ignorance which is their own problem. Justice Forum, is th oldest and first caucus in Lagos APC. We dominate the party both at the state level and the local government levels. Any other group comes after us.
“You all should continue to hold your meetings in your various local governments. For us to be able to control the crowd at this event, we only ask each local government to come with 50 members and you all can see how the crowd is”, said Olusi.
Isaac Abimbade
08155107955
