Despite official silence, party insiders confirm a widening divide, with the President reportedly snubbing the governor on multiple occasions.
A growing political rift between President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was exposed during the President’s recent visit to Lagos.
Despite official silence, party insiders confirm a widening divide, with the President reportedly snubbing the governor on multiple occasions.
At Murtala Muhammed Airport, Tinubu ignored Sanwo-Olu, choosing instead to greet Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat—an act many saw as deliberate. The governor was also absent from key events, including the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebration, with aides offering vague excuses. Sources claim Sanwo-Olu was nearly excluded from the reception protocol entirely.
The fallout appears linked to Sanwo-Olu’s alleged role in a failed plot to unseat Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, reportedly reversed by Tinubu’s intervention. Since then, Sanwo-Olu has seen his influence decline, notably during the July 2025 local government primaries where none of his allies secured nominations.
Political analysts compare the fallout to past tensions between Tinubu and former governors Fashola and Ambode, raising fears of another political casualty. The rift has sparked concerns over the unity of Lagos APC and the impact of personal politics on governance. As one party insider put it, “This is not just about ego… it’s about control.”