Laja Adeoye emerged on Thursday as the consensus governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.

 Mr Adeoye, a real estate entrepreneur, emerged during the party’s gubernatorial primary election, held in Yaba, Lagos.

The election, monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was conducted via consensus and affirmation.

The Chairman of the APM governorship primary electoral committee for the state, Godwin Williamson, said Mr Adeoye was adopted by delegates and stakeholders of the party from the 20 local government areas of the state.

“Having fulfilled all constitutional and procedural requirements of the party and the Electoral Act, and following the consensus endorsement by stakeholders and delegates, I hereby officially declare Prince Laja Adeoye as the duly elected and returned gubernatorial candidate of the APM for the 2027 Lagos State governorship election,” Mr Williamson said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Adeoye, who applauded Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, as well as leaders of the PDP-APM coalition for support, said that “real change and freedom” would come to Lagos if he emerged as governor in 2027.

Promising to “reset Lagos’’ through inclusive governance and economic reforms, Mr Adeoye urged other party candidates to embrace unity and sportsmanship ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“APM is not just another party; it is a powerful movement forged through hard work, immense sacrifices, and an unyielding determination to rescue Lagos from misrule and return the state firmly to its rightful owners, the people of Lagos.

“Lagos residents have suffered enough. That is why I took the bold decision to join this movement.

“APM is the government-in-waiting, a frontline opposition party in Nigeria, a formidable coalition force built on integrity, competence, transparency, and genuine people-centred leadership. Enough is enough,” Mr Adeoye said.

Calling for unity within the PDP-APM alliance, the candidate said, “This is not the time for celebration or division. No one has been defeated.

“We are one family. We must now unite with fierce urgency to rescue our beloved state from the suffocating grip,”

Speaking on his recently unveiled agenda entitled “Àtunto Èkó 1.0: Re-Engineering Lagos for Inclusive Prosperity — our bold RESET LAGOS Agenda 2027”, Mr Adeoye described the document as a comprehensive governance blueprint to deliver accountable leadership.

The candidate pledged economic rebirth and job creation, housing and urban renewal, education and human capital, healthcare and social welfare, security and justice, infrastructure and sustainability, and inclusiveness and unity.

He said, “Under Àtunto Èkó 1.0, we will aggressively remove all bottlenecks to investment, create Public Private Partnership, other enterprises, and adopt the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) to quickly stimulate Lagos Economy and reduce borrowing.

“We will attract massive local and foreign capital, provide real incentives for SMEs, invest in Agribusiness to make food sufficient for Lagos residents and build our blue/ocean economy on a large scale.

“We will develop industrial hubs across all IBILE zones, invest in Independent Power Project (IPP) and create hundreds of thousands of productive jobs.

“Our youths will no longer be idle, they will be empowered, skilled and employed. Lagos will once again become a true engine of prosperity that works for every single Lagos resident.”

The APM candidate promised to launch a massive, people-friendly housing revolution, delivering decent, affordable homes “on a scale never seen before”.

“We will renew communities with compassion, dignity and justice so that every Lagosian, rich or poor, can have a secure roof over their head.

“Quality healthcare must never again be a luxury for the rich. We will prioritise accessible and preventive healthcare, fully equip our hospitals, including Primary, Secondary and Tertiary healthcare centres.

“Under Àtunto Èkó 1.0, we will rebuild our state from the foundations and give Lagos back to its people.

“We will create a Lagos of opportunities, not obstacles; a Lagos of justice, not exclusion; a Lagos where leadership serves with humility, integrity and total commitment,” he said.

Pledging to deliver his covenant with the people if voted as governor, Mr Adeoye said, “I am ready to serve with every fibre of my being, with competence, humility, transparency and total dedication.

“I am to listen to your voices every single day, ready to work day and night, and ready to deliver tangible results that you can see and feel. APM will deliver renewed action, visible transformation and genuine hope,” he said.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the state APM chairman, Bunmi Adeyemo, who welcomed the delegates, said the consensus and affirmation primary election reflected the wishes and aspirations of the party leadership and delegates.

According to her, the party’s House of Assembly, House of Representatives and senatorial candidates also emerged by consensus and affirmation during the primaries.

    (NAN)