Unchallenged godfather of Lagos politics and Nigeria’s near maximum leader President Bola Tinubu has penciled down Hon. Ayo Gbeley as the next deputy governor of Lagos State. The Awori Technocrat with Finance, PPP & Private Sector Credentials is billed to step into the office soon to be vacated by Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who will soon leave to concentrate on his governorship aspiration.
Ayo Gbeley’s profile is that of a typical Lagos West indigene balancing public service, enterprise reform, and private sector experience
When President Tinubu began consultations on consolidating Lagos APC’s structure ahead of the next political cycle, Hon. Ayo Gbeley re-emerged as a key name from Lagos West.
Born and raised in Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Gbeley is an Awori indigene of Lagos West – the senatorial district that delivers over 60% of Lagos’ votes. His profile combines indigenous legitimacy, finance expertise, PPP experience, and corporate sector background, making him a high-fit candidate for Deputy Governor.
Ayo Gbeley is Lagos-born, Awori by heritage, from Oshodi-Isolo LGA in Lagos West. The district’s electoral weight and the Awori community’s demand for representation at the top level of government make his profile politically strategic.
Gbeley trained in economics, finance, and public administration. His academic foundation in public finance and management shaped his approach to budgeting, revenue generation, and public enterprise reform.
Special Adviser on PPP, Lagos State
Before becoming Commissioner, Gbeley served as Special Adviser on Public-Private Partnerships. In this role he structured and negotiated PPP deals for infrastructure projects, giving Lagos early experience in leveraging private capital for public projects. This laid the groundwork for the PPP model now central to THEMES+.
Honorable Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State As Commissioner for Finance, he managed Lagos State’s fiscal policy, annual budgets, and revenue strategy. His tenure focused on expanding IGR, improving fiscal discipline, and strengthening the state’s credit profile to attract investors.
At the federal level, he chaired FMBN’s board Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), overseeing policy on affordable housing finance. The role gave him national visibility in housing, mortgage reform, and urban development finance.
Currently, Gbeley serves as DG of the Bureau of Public Enterprises. BPE leads Nigeria’s privatization and public enterprise reform agenda, placing him at the center of asset monetization, PPP structuring, and engagement with multilateral institutions like the World Bank and IFC.
Before and between public appointments, Gbeley built a career in the corporate sector, primarily in finance, investment advisory, and project finance. He worked with financial institutions and consultancy firms on corporate finance, risk management, and infrastructure funding deals.
This private sector experience gave him:
Direct exposure to how investors assess risk in Nigeria and Lagos specifically.
A network in banking, real estate, and infrastructure finance.
A reputation as a technocrat who understands both government processes and private sector expectations.
That blend is rare in Nigerian politics – he speaks the language of the boardroom and the LGA secretariat.
Lagos West = 10 LGAs, the largest voting bloc. An Awori indigene from Oshodi-Isolo addresses the demand for inclusion while consolidating votes in a decisive zone.
THEMES+ depends on fiscal discipline, PPPs, and asset optimization. Gbeley’s record as Special Adviser PPP, Commissioner for Finance, and DG BPE aligns directly with that agenda.
As DG BPE, he has direct access to federal privatization pipelines and multilateral funding. Lagos stands to benefit from faster alignment on housing, transport, and urban renewal projects.
His corporate background makes him credible to the business community. He is seen as someone who can de-risk Lagos projects and translate government policy into bankable deals.
The likely framing if Gbeley is nominated:
Son of the Soil: Awori, Lagos-born, understands the culture and challenges of Lagos West.
Numbers Man: Proven record in public finance, revenue growth, and budget discipline.
Ayo Gbeley represents a rare combination: indigenous roots, private sector discipline, and federal public service experience. In a state where governance is both political and technical, that combination positions him as more than a political pick – he’s a governance asset.
For Lagos West, it’s a chance to see one of their own move to the top. For Lagos State, it’s a chance to reinforce the finance and PPP architecture that has driven its growth for two decades.
He is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
Gbeleyi is also an alumnus of executive programmes of London Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Lagos Business School.
