Onochie Clarifies Legal Requirements for Lagos Governorship Aspirants
Lauretta Onochie, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has clarified that the law does not prevent individuals whose parents were governors or presidents from contesting in the Lagos State governorship race in 2027.
Posting images of prominent political figures including Seyi Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Onochie emphasized that voters should be guided by the law when discussing potential candidates for Lagos’ governorship position.
Onochie explained that the law does not bar individuals with parents who were governors or presidents from running for state governor. “Let us be guided by the law when we argue about Lagos State succession,” she stated, adding, “We cannot have a set of laws for Nigeria and a different set for Lagos.”
She went on to outline the key legal requirements for running for the office of governor in Nigeria:
- The candidate must be a Nigerian citizen by birth.
- The candidate must be at least 35 years old.
- The candidate must be a member of a political party that sponsors their candidacy.
- The candidate must have at least a School Certificate level of education or its equivalent.
Onochie further listed several disqualifications, including acquiring citizenship from another country, being convicted of certain crimes, presenting a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other legal conditions.
She concluded by calling for discussions about the governorship race to be based on these legal standards: “Let our arguments be guided by the laws of our land.”
There has been growing speculation around Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, possibly succeeding Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027. Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has recently expressed confidence in Seyi’s qualifications, citing his track record and commitment.
However, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, has stated that he is focused on his current duties and is not seeking to run for governor at the moment.
