Former Minister of Communications, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd), has revealed that plans are in motion to prevent non-indigenes from securing elected positions in Lagos during the 2027 elections.
Olanrewaju, who serves as the Alternate Chairman of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation in Ikorodu, Lagos State, expressed concern over how current political parties deny Lagos indigenes the opportunity to hold key political roles.
He also warned that the ongoing efforts by the ruling elite, mostly non-indigenous residents, to maintain control over Lagos will be challenged in 2027.
He stated, “The pressing question is: who represents the political interests of Lagos indigenes in government? Who determines who qualifies to represent Lagos State in both the National and State Assemblies or to fill key appointment quotas? While some may argue that the Constitution provides these answers, it doesn’t explain why, for 25 years, Lagos has been the only state in the federation since 1999 not governed by a true indigene, except for once.
Political parties consistently deny indigenes the chance to hold critical positions, falsely claiming that the indigenous population is too small to have a significant impact, even though there’s no data supporting this.”
Olanrewaju emphasized that Lagos State’s economic significance and development make control over its resources highly contested. He believes that this fierce competition marginalizes indigenes, allowing non-indigenes to dominate political offices.
“The conspiracy by the ruling elite, largely non-indigenes, to permanently control the state has made it common for non-indigenes to occupy about 60% of key political positions at various levels of government,” he said.
He criticized the misuse of constitutional provisions, such as freedom of movement and residency, by non-indigenes who claim dual states of origin, calling it an abuse of the Constitution. According to Olanrewaju, these individuals often gain access to political roles that should be reserved for indigenes by falsely declaring their ties to Lagos State.
He added, “It’s a betrayal when political parties nominate candidates with dual state origins, and this practice undermines the rights of Lagos indigenes.”
Olanrewaju urged political parties to prioritize indigenes when selecting candidates and encouraged Lagos indigenes to actively pursue political offices at all levels. He warned that if indigenes do not assert themselves, they risk being overwhelmed by the influx of non-indigenes settling in the state.
He concluded, “By 2027, Lagos will have been a political orphan for 19 years. It’s time for indigenes across all parties to stand up and contest for elective positions, from the governorship down to local government offices. Advocacy is about fighting for human dignity—let us fight for what is right, even if it means standing alone.”
, has revealed that plans are in motion to prevent non-indigenes from securing elected positions in Lagos during the 2027 elections.){kind=link}