Lagos governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose, has questioned the timing and logic of the consensus adoption of Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

His objections follow the recent endorsement of the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as a consensus candidate by party leadership and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Ajose expressed frustration over the perceived lack of sincerity in the process, suggesting that if a consensus had been the plan from the outset, the party should not have sold forms to other aspirants.

“If our leadership in Lagos had decided that they wanted to go by consensus, then they shouldn’t have been selling the forms to us. A whole lot of people have invested money in these forms, and then you just come and provide a shortcut,” he said.

He further argued that the process must be transparent and fair to all contenders.

“We are not in a battle, we are in a contest. And the contest needs to be free and fair,” Ajose stated.

He further noted that he has received no formal communication regarding a consensus arrangement, adding, “No leadership has reached out to us to discuss any consensus. Everybody is still telling me to go and mobilize my base, both statewide and nationally.”

While acknowledging that consensus is a valid mechanism within party rules, Ajose maintained that it must follow due process.

He asked how a consensus could be reached without even establishing the full field of contestants.

Beyond the technicalities of the primary, Ajose positioned his candidacy as a voice for long-neglected communities, specifically those in Badagry.

“I’m not in this race just for myself. I’m in this race because I’m representing people who have been neglected for 57 years. What the Badagry people are asking is: are we not part of Nigeria? Are we not part of Lagos?,” he said.

Ajose, the CEO of Levitical Groups, pointed to his extensive experience in real estate, construction, and manufacturing as evidence of his ability to manage the state’s economy.

He highlighted that his firm employs over 300 Nigerians, whom he pays without government assistance.

“If you have a pool of over 300 workers and you are not struggling to pay them at the end of every month, I think that person has the capacity to run an economy,” he said.

He drew a sharp contrast between his background and that of the endorsed candidate, noting, “The difference between me and His Excellency, Dr. Hamzat, is that Hamzat has been in government, and everything he has done has been funded by the government. But I am someone who pays my people directly.”

In a move to demonstrate transparency, Ajose volunteered his personal tax records, noting that he paid ₦21 million in personal income tax this year, following payments of ₦20 million and ₦18 million in the preceding two years.

Despite his strong opposition to the current consensus move, Ajose signaled that he remains a party man.

“You need to understand that we are in a contest, not a battle. Whoever gets to the front first, we will celebrate that person,” he concluded.