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EXCLUSIVE: Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu Ordered To Resign On Health Grounds, Deputy To Take Over
April 27, 2026
NEWS
EXCLUSIVE

Lagos State is bracing for a major political shake-up as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly been asked to resign on health grounds, paving the way for his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, to assume office and complete the remainder of the administration’s tenure.

According to sources within the presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and key members of his inner circle are said to be dissatisfied with the current leadership in Lagos and have moved to initiate a transition plan.

The arrangement, if carried through, would not only see Hamzat finish the current term but also position him as a frontrunner for a fresh four-year mandate in the 2027 elections.

“The Presidency, President Bola Tinubu and key figures in his inner circle are reportedly dissatisfied with the current leadership in Lagos and have moved to initiate a transition plan,” a top source in the Presidency said.

“The emerging arrangement would see Sanwo-Olu resign, paving the way for his deputy to assume office and complete the remainder of the tenure.”

While no official statement has been released, the development underscores intensifying political recalibration within Lagos, widely regarded as Tinubu’s most strategic stronghold.

If carried through, the move would represent one of the most consequential leadership changes in the state in recent years, with far-reaching implications for party dynamics, governance continuity, and the broader electoral outlook ahead of 2027.

Political tensions have reportedly deepened in recent weeks. Governor Sanwo-Olu has been accused within party circles of insubordination, including alleged attempts to consolidate independent political structures in Lagos perceived as a challenge to Tinubu’s influence.

He has also been linked to efforts to unseat the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as well as disputes over control of strategic land assets.

In March 2025, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that President Tinubu intervened to facilitate the reinstatement of Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly following his impeachment.

The intervention, according to sources, came after the President identified what he perceived as the influence of the state executive, led by Governor Sanwo-Olu, in the circumstances surrounding Obasa’s removal.

Sources present at a meeting Tinubu held with state lawmakers at the time said the President expressed concern over the extent of the governor’s influence, describing it as troubling and suggesting that Sanwo-Olu had a vested interest in determining the Assembly’s leadership.

The meeting, SaharaReporters learned, was convened to address the leadership crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“At the meeting, President Tinubu explained that the reason why Obasa escaped the impeachment was because he saw the indelible fingerprints of the Lagos executive led by Sanwo-Olu in the Speaker’s removal, and he found it unsettling why the executive would be interested in who should emerge as the Speaker,” a source familiar with the events at the meeting stated.

The high-stakes meeting followed Tinubu’s decision to arrange a chartered flight to transport all Lagos Assembly members to Abuja in a bid to resolve the political crisis.

The crisis, which erupted after the impeachment of Obasa on January 13, 2025 over allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement, rocked Lagos politics.

Lawmakers had initially celebrated his removal as a victory for accountability, but behind-the-scenes pressure from APC leaders, backed by Tinubu, led to his controversial reinstatement.

Mojisola Meranda, who was briefly installed as Speaker following Obasa’s ouster, was forced to step down under pressure from party bigwigs, reportedly as part of a deal to maintain party unity.

Another development that reportedly strained the relationship between President Tinubu and his political protégé, Governor Sanwo-Olu, arose when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, an associate of the Lagos governor, wanted over allegations of money laundering and criminal conspiracy.

Achimugu, who was accused of secretly funnelling funds to opposition leaders Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 elections, was officially declared wanted in a circular issued by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC, in a statement, called on the public to provide information about her whereabouts, listing her last known address as 6C, Rudolf Close, Maitama, Abuja.

The circular, signed by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated: "The public is hereby notified that AISHA SULAIMAN ACHIMUGU, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy and Money Laundering.

This development followed an exclusive report by Peoples Gazette, which revealed that President Tinubu was "furious and felt betrayed" after receiving intelligence that funds linked to Sanwo-Olu’s ally, Achimugu, had made their way to Obi and Atiku.

The report suggested that Tinubu viewed the situation as a serious act of political betrayal.

A top government official told Peoples Gazette: “The president was furious and felt betrayed when he was informed that this actually happened. He has absorbed deceptive political tactics all his life, but he was uncharacteristically hurt by this one.”

Security sources investigating Achimugu’s financial activities allegedly traced large sums to both Obi and Atiku after the 2023 elections, raising questions about Sanwo-Olu’s political allegiance.

The Gazette further reported that the funds might have been distributed as part of a compromise to secure Sanwo-Olu’s re-election after Tinubu’s shock loss in Lagos during the presidential polls.

Analysts suggested that the EFCC’s sudden interest in Achimugu was a sign that the presidency might be preparing to cut ties with the Lagos governor.

Reacting to the allegations, former Vice President Atiku vehemently denied ever receiving funds from Sanwo-Olu, calling the claims "a blatant lie from the pit of hell."

In June 2025, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that President Tinubu expressed strong displeasure with Governor Sanwo-Olu over the alleged illegal allocation of 96 hectares of land in Banana Island to developers.

Sources familiar with the matter claimed that part of the disputed land was believed to be linked to Tinubu, and its alleged sale by the Lagos State Government further heightened tensions between the President and the governor.

“Tinubu got upset with Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over illegal land allocation at Banana Island, where they allocated 96 hectares to developers linked to them. Sanwo-Olu, they reported, also sold Tinubu’s land at Banana Island,” one of the sources said.

Earlier in May, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that federal investigators had uncovered what appeared to be one of the largest land racketeering and money laundering schemes involving the Lagos State Government and certain federal officials.

The revelation prompted an official probe into the extensive fraud.

SaharaReporters obtained a document showing that the EFCC, in a letter dated May 16, 2025, formally requested detailed records from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development regarding questionable land allocations to 14 companies across prime areas in Lagos, including Banana Island, Lekki, Osborne Foreshore, and Lagos Lagoon.

The letter, signed by the Acting Director of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, and marked CR:3000/EFCC/LS.2/ADM/KOO/VOL.2/491, specifically requested the then-Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, to provide Certified True Copies (CTC) of development permits, certificates of occupancy, equity structures, revenue-sharing agreements tied to these land allocations, amongst other details.

The letter noted that the commission was investigating an “alleged case of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering”.

The agency requested to be furnished with Certified True Copies (CTC) of specific documents to aid its investigation. These included confirmation on whether any of the listed companies were granted Development Permits for the shoreline, as well as copies of all relevant Development Permits or Certifications, Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), and title documents for the allocated shoreline.

The issue prompted Tinubu to order the immediate revocation of approvals and licenses granted for unauthorised islands and developments on federal road setbacks and infrastructure corridors in Lagos.

The President made this announcement during the official commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road on June 5, 2025.

SaharaReporters

The arrangement, if carried through, would not only see Hamzat finish the current term but also position him as a frontrunner for a fresh four-year mandate in the 2027 elections.

Hope this is not April joke. Or has Gbagada published his dossiers. Let us be here to laugh.

Lagos state, Bola Tinubus property

Beer palour stories, made up stories, fake from the onset

Nothing do SANWO OLU...HE'LL COMPLETE HIS 8 YEARS AND HANDOVER to CHINEDU FLANGELO12

So Yele wrote this long fabricated epistle to achieve what precisely?

This is to ensure that the deputy can only Do 4 years

It won't be a surprise to me if this happens to be true. Sanwo has proven to be a weak and irredeemably liberal Governor to the detriment of the indigents of Lagos.

Don't forget the President refused to physically commission his projects and sent the Senate President to represent him, while he commissioned projects in Bayelsa State. Security was the excuse given.

I already knew this would happen. By the way, Sanwoolu and Hamzat are not really best of friends, but the deputy has just been matured not to be dramatic.

Man dominating man to His injury!Lagos state governors are always bewitched slaves,I know Mr President is a true democrat.Making His son the governor will make the truest of His democratic tenets.

Arkmanbuddy:
It won't be a surprise to me if this happens to be true. Sanwo has proven to be a weak and irredeemably liberal Governor to the detriment of the indigents of Lagos.

Don't forget the President refused to physically commission his projects and sent the Senate President to represent him, while he commissioned projects in Bayelsa State. Security was the excuse given.

I already knew this would happen. By the way, Sanwoolu and Hamzat are not really best of friends, but the deputy has just been matured not to be dramatic.

did bayelsa gov do more projects than sanwo? No and never but Tinubu ditched, in sanwo, what he wants us to believe Nigerians see in him - performance.
A big contradiction.

To make sure Sango-Olu will not work with Mr. Obi to snatch “LEH-GUS”. Tinubu does not trust SanGo-Olu anymore.

OJ-ORO festival has come early for LEHGUSIANS!😁

PBAT is already president and wants to be Governor, senator, councilor and every position in Lagos at the same time, no president as ever been so power hungry as he is😏. All these positions he occupies are always of no benefit to the people than to create more debt and chaos💔

The dumbest people are those that manipulative folks, with hidden agendas, throw clearly senseless and fake news to and they begin losing their head discussing it.

Sowore is a fraudstar who thinks little of the average Nigeria. He uses SaharaReporters as his own private tool of deception and manipulation.

It will be painful if Ambode isn't giving the Governorship ticket here. Nawaoooo

Fake news

Eyah.... Sorry o

Sanwo_Olu was indeed a mediocre just like the one governing Nigeria, so if Sanwo-Olu should resign on health grounds, the one at Aso Rock ought not to resign alone, he ought to jail himself with apology to Nigerians, what's good for the boys is also good for the greatgrandpa

WizardOfNG:
The dumbest people are those that manipulative folks, with hidden agendas, throw clearly senseless and fake news to and they begin losing their head discussing it.

Sowore is a fraudstar who thinks little of the average Nigeria. He uses SaharaReporters as his own private tool of deception and manipulation.

Worst are those who choose to be blinded by ethnic bigotry to the extent that they make stuff up by themselves, give it their own interpretation and run along with it to make life impacting decisions while telling themselves they're doing the right thing while deep down, they know they are not

Kukutente23:
Worst are those who choose to be blinded by ethnic bigotry to the extent that they make stuff up by themselves, give it their own interpretation and run along with it to make life impacting decisions while telling themselves they're doing the right thing while deep down, they know they are not

Lol. You just described yourself.

This looks like a mega propaganda 😨

Who says that? Don't let we the affobaje a.k.a Baba-Isale (cabal) of lagos hear am. Just stop sobe..learn from Ambode (your ex given)

MadPolitician:
Lagos state, Bola Tinubus property

Arkmanbuddy:
It won't be a surprise to me if this happens to be true. Sanwo has proven to be a weak and irredeemably liberal Governor to the detriment of the indigents of Lagos.

Don't forget the President refused to physically commission his projects and sent the Senate President to represent him, while he commissioned projects in Bayelsa State. Security was the excuse given.

I already knew this would happen. By the way, Sanwoolu and Hamzat are not really best of friends, but the deputy has just been matured not to be dramatic.

Do you remember how Tinubu finished his first and second term? Do you remember how many deputies he had and why some of them had to be impeached instead of resignation (for pension)? I will not be surprised. Just yesterday, the Achimugu woman or what's her name went to Channels for an interview to say she had nothing to do with Sanwoolu.

If Sanwoolu resigns, it means Hamzat can only do one term. For Baba Sope it has nothing to do with performance, it's all about calculations. Let this one do one term so that ________ can enter in 2031.

SixSeven:
Not true. When he wanted to make that yeye move for Fashola second term, he shifted. And we can see it was all for Fashola not to take shine off him as Lagos Governor because there was no sensible reason to give other than someone who loves to be worshipped. You can't please such people. They always want to play God.

It's people who suck up to him that give him power but make no mistake, Tinubu changed his deputy governors at least 3x when they challenged him. Only that woman who knows him inside out, Kofoworola Bucknor has not gone to him. He made his former deputy an Ambassador to Australia. That one was removed because he wanted to be Governor without his consent. Ambode too came back but these politicians, they don't have principles so don't waste time with them.

OLAADEGBU:
The arrangement, if carried through, would not only see Hamzat finish the current term but also position him as a frontrunner for a fresh four-year mandate in the 2027 elections.

In all of this, this will tell you that Tinubu isn’t a good politician but a dangerous figure. He’s trying to become the present day IBB of NIGERIA 🇳🇬 and this is wrong if we calm to be having democracy. All of a sudden Sanwo olu now has health issues, so critical that he has to resign for his deputy n just yesterday, same sanwo olu endorse the deputy for Governor. No one knows hamzat, people will find it had to support but this strategy is to make him seen by lagosian so he can be voting for in 2027. Well it’s all APC watwatwat but I just hope ‘INEC’ will do Nigerians good

SixSeven:
Do you remember how Tinubu finished his first and second term? Do you remember how many deputies he had and why some of them had to be impeached instead of resignation (for pension)? I will not be surprised. Just yesterday, the Achimugu woman or what's her name went to Channels for an interview to say she had nothing to do with Sanwoolu.

If Sanwoolu resigns, it means Hamzat can only do one term. For Baba Sope it has nothing to do with performance, it's all about calculations. Let this one do one term so that ________ can enter in 2031.

Are you invariably saying that baba is paving the way for his son?

Arkmanbuddy:
Are you invariably saying that baba is paving the way for his son?

Never say never. They will keep pushing the bar as long as you allow them to. Remember some people said it will be disastrous for son and daddy to be both Governor and President so why not let daddy finish his 2 term then son will enter?

The Lagos State Government has officially denied it, calling it false and misleading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PntQF4rvT2U?si=2NPVifT9o8lohHAK

sanwo olu will simply team with Ambode, they will defeat hamzat.

WizardOfNG:
The dumbest people are those that manipulative folks, with hidden agendas, throw clearly senseless and fake news to and they begin losing their head discussing it.

Sowore is a fraudstar who thinks little of the average Nigeria. He uses SaharaReporters as his own private tool of deception and manipulation.

for the president not to shake him and ditch the commissioning of the projects....you don't need a soothsayer to tell you there. Is a.problem.

My only concern is the land racketeering,I know someone that spent 1.3b on some hectares of land,I just hope this problem won't affect him.

James Faleke from Kogi state Represents Lagos Ikeja at the HOR since 2011. But Gbadebo "Chinedu" Rhodes-Vivour from Lagos Island Gan gan Cannot Run for Governor of Lagos? 🙄

The phools telling Chinedu to GO BACK TO ANAMBRA are being ruled by a Man from Kogi

APC Go Whine you but No Panic 😂