Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has dismissed speculations regarding a potential presidential run, declaring that he has no interest in seeking Nigeria’s highest political office. ​
Speaking during a recent television interview on Beyond The Headlines in Lagos on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated that he is completely content with his private life and professional return to legal practice.
​”I have no desire or intention to run for the presidency. I am satisfied with the life I live today and the contributions I have made to public service,” Fashola said, reaffirming his preference for supporting national development from outside active governance. ​
Fashola, who served two terms as Governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015 before leading the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing (and later Works and Housing) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2023, addressed ongoing political commentary ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
​Reflecting on his decades in public administration, the veteran lawyer emphasized that governance does not strictly require holding elective office. Instead, he noted his focus remains on private legal practice, institution-building, public advocacy, and contributing to non-governmental initiatives aimed at strengthening governance and rule of law across the nation.
