Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu and GAC Leaders Hold Strategic Meeting with President Tinubu

 In a significant display of political alignment, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accompanied by key members of the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC), convened with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, to discuss critical state and national issues.

The closed-door meeting, held in early June 2025, underscored the deep-rooted political synergy between Tinubu, the architect of modern Lagos politics, and Sanwo-Olu, his protégé steering Nigeria’s economic capital. The GAC, a powerful decision-making body within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, included prominent figures such as Tajudeen Olusi and Abayomi Finnih, who have long shaped the state’s political landscape. The gathering aimed to reinforce unity within the party’s Lagos chapter ahead of the July 2025 local government elections and address governance challenges in the state.

The discussions, lasting over three hours, focused on strengthening APC’s dominance in Lagos, where the party has governed since 1999, and aligning state policies with Tinubu’s national agenda. Sanwo-Olu briefed Tinubu on ongoing infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the Fourth Mainland Bridge, which aim to ease commuting for millions of residents. The GAC members emphasized grassroots mobilization, urging Tinubu to guide candidate selection to avoid internal rifts, a concern following recent primaries where some aspirants felt sidelined.

Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, reiterated his commitment to mentoring younger leaders, praising Sanwo-Olu’s handling of urban renewal projects like the Eko Atlantic City expansion. The meeting also touched on economic challenges, with Sanwo-Olu seeking federal support for Lagos’s role as Nigeria’s commercial hub, hosting over 60% of the nation’s industrial capacity.

Despite rumors of a rift between Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu, sparked by a viral video of a supposed snub, aides clarified that their relationship remains robust, with the meeting signaling a unified front. The GAC’s endorsement of Sanwo-Olu’s 2027 re-election bid further solidified Lagos’s political stability, setting the stage for coordinated efforts to maintain APC’s grip on the state.