Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Two politicians from the historic Doherty family of Lagos are seeking to become the next governor of the state, but they are approaching the 2027 election through different political parties, reflecting the competing interests and political choices shaping the race.
The two candidates are Olufunso Adeshina Doherty, popularly known as Funso Doherty, who is contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Adedeji Olugbemiga Doherty, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Their presence in the same governorship contest has drawn attention to the Doherty name, which has historical connections to Lagos, particularly its established communities and commercial heritage.
Although they share a prominent family name and Lagos roots, the two politicians are pursuing separate political campaigns, with different party structures, political experiences and proposals for the state’s future.
Their candidacies also form part of a wider contest involving several political parties seeking to challenge the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.
Two candidates, two political platforms
Funso Doherty is the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Adedeji Doherty is representing the Peoples Democratic Party.
The distinction is important because both candidates will appear as separate contestants on the ballot, despite sharing the same surname.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s published list of governorship candidates, the two men are officially listed under their respective parties for the Lagos election.
Funso Doherty, listed by INEC as Doherty Olufunso Adeshina, is 58 years old, while Adedeji Doherty, listed as Doherty Adedeji Olugbemiga, is 64.
Their running mates are also different. Funso Doherty is paired with Moriam Tolani Anmashaun on the NDC ticket, while Adedeji Doherty is contesting alongside Khadijat Abike Bello under the PDP.
The two candidacies demonstrate how politicians from a shared historical and family background can pursue different political routes in the same electoral contest.
For voters, the distinction will be particularly relevant during the election campaign, as candidates with similar surnames will be seeking support under different party identities.
The historical roots of the Doherty name in Lagos
The Doherty family name has a long-standing connection with Lagos, particularly the historic communities associated with the city’s early commercial and social development.
Information published in Funso Doherty’s biography traces his paternal ancestry to Josiah Henryson Doherty, popularly known as the Prince Merchant of Alakoro.
His father, the late Dr Henry Aderounmu Aremu Doherty, was born in Lagos in 1900. He later pursued medical studies in Glasgow, Scotland, completing his training in 1926 before returning to work as a medical officer during the colonial period.
He subsequently established a private medical practice on Aje Street in Lagos.
Funso Doherty was born in Lagos on June 16, 1968, and grew up in the Yaba area, on Wakeman Street, now known as Borno Way.
His family background reflects a combination of medical, commercial and public-service experiences that form part of his personal connection to Lagos.
Adedeji Doherty’s campaign biography also identifies him as a member of the Doherty family of Popo Aguda, another historically significant part of Lagos.
According to his campaign website, he trained as an engineer in the United States before returning to Nigeria in 1986 to establish business interests. His business journey reportedly began with a mobile grain-processing operation that later developed into the DAIN Group of Companies.
The two candidates’ published biographies therefore point to their connections with the wider historical Doherty family and Lagos heritage.
However, their shared surname and historical background should not automatically be taken as evidence of a particular close family relationship. The available biographical information establishes their respective family histories but does not provide sufficient detail to determine the precise relationship between the two candidates.
Funso Doherty’s political journey
Funso Doherty has developed a public profile through his involvement in finance, investment management, governance and political advocacy.
He previously contested the Lagos governorship election in 2023 under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), positioning himself as an opposition candidate seeking changes in the management of the state.
In April 2026, he announced another governorship ambition, initially under the ADC. However, he subsequently joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, under which he is now listed as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
His political movement between parties has placed him within a different opposition platform from the one under which he contested in 2023.
The NDC candidacy gives him another opportunity to present his proposals to Lagos voters, particularly on public accountability, economic management, public services and the use of state resources.
His campaign has also highlighted his professional experience and his stated interest in improving governance in Lagos.
The party’s choice of Funso Doherty means the 2027 contest will again feature a candidate who has previously sought the state’s highest political office.
Adedeji Doherty’s PDP ambition
Adedeji Doherty’s political journey has been closely associated with the Peoples Democratic Party.
His campaign biography describes him as a long-standing member of the party, stating that he has remained with the PDP since 1999.
He previously served as chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the party and has participated in several attempts to secure its governorship ticket.
In May 2026, he emerged as the PDP’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election following the party’s primary process in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that his emergence was announced by the chairman of the PDP governorship primary electoral committee, Olalekan Rotimi, who said party delegates and stakeholders had adopted him.
Adedeji Doherty subsequently accepted the party’s nomination and presented his ambition as an opportunity to pursue what he described as a more prosperous and inclusive Lagos.
His campaign has highlighted his background in engineering and business, arguing that his professional experience could contribute to infrastructure development, employment creation and economic growth.
The PDP candidate is therefore entering the contest with a political history within the party and an established business profile.
Both candidates take their messages to Lagos voters
The two Dohertys were among four prominent governorship candidates who participated in a public debate in Lagos on November 8, 2026.
The debate, organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, also featured Obafemi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress.
The consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, Punch, TheCable and Vanguard.
The event provided an opportunity for the candidates to explain their positions on issues affecting residents and to present competing approaches to the state’s development.
According to Channels Television’s coverage, discussions included flooding, traffic congestion, housing, education, transportation and other public-service challenges.
The candidates offered different proposals and assessments of the state’s development priorities.
Funso Doherty’s participation provided an opportunity for the NDC candidate to present his political and governance agenda to a wider audience, while Adedeji Doherty used the platform to outline his own vision as the PDP flagbearer.
The debate also brought the two politicians bearing the Doherty name into the same public political space, making their different party affiliations more visible to voters.
Lagos politics and the wider 2027 contest
The Lagos governorship election is expected to attract considerable attention because of the state’s economic importance, population and influence in national politics.
Lagos is Nigeria’s leading commercial centre, with major interests in finance, trade, manufacturing, technology, entertainment, transportation and real estate.
The management of the state therefore has implications beyond its immediate geographical boundaries.
Issues such as transportation, housing affordability, flooding, infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and employment are likely to remain central to the campaigns.
The governing APC will be seeking to retain control of the state, while opposition parties will attempt to persuade voters that they can offer more effective alternatives.
The presence of 17 political parties on INEC’s published Lagos governorship list indicates a broad field of contestants, although the strength and electoral influence of the different parties are not necessarily equal.
Among the major candidates are incumbent Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of the APC, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the ADC, Funso Doherty of the NDC and Adedeji Doherty of the PDP.
The competition will therefore involve more than the political identities of individual candidates. It will also test party organisation, campaign structures, voter mobilisation, public confidence and the ability of contestants to communicate credible policy proposals.
Why the two Doherty candidacies matter
The appearance of two candidates from the historic Doherty family in the same Lagos governorship race offers an interesting dimension to the state’s political history.
Their shared family name connects the election to a wider Lagos heritage, but their political choices show that historical identity does not necessarily translate into a common political programme.
Funso Doherty and Adedeji Doherty are seeking the same office through different parties, and each must persuade voters that his political platform, experience and proposals offer a convincing direction for the state.
For the electorate, the central issue will not simply be the candidates’ family backgrounds. It will be their ability to address the practical challenges facing residents and demonstrate how their proposed policies can be implemented.
The contest also reinforces the importance of informed voting. With candidates sharing similar surnames, voters will need to pay attention to party affiliations, candidate identities and the specific choices presented on the ballot.
What happens next?
With the 2027 election approaching, the candidates are expected to intensify their campaigns, engage communities and explain their policy priorities to voters.
The November 8 debate has provided an early public opportunity to compare the positions of four leading contestants, but the election campaign will require candidates to demonstrate the credibility, feasibility and financial implications of their proposals.
The next stage will involve sustained engagement with voters across Lagos’ 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
The governorship election is scheduled for February 6, 2027, according to the election timetable reported by Channels Television.
Ultimately, the two Dohertys will be judged not simply by their historical family name or political affiliations, but by the confidence they can build among Lagos residents.
Their presence in the same race has created an unusual political talking point. However, the decision over who governs Lagos will rest with the electorate and the choices it makes at the ballot box.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – Updated Final List of Candidates for the 2027 Governorship Election.
- News Agency of Nigeria – 2027: Doherty Emerges Lagos PDP Consensus Candidate.
- Channels Television – Lagos Governorship Debate Coverage, November 8, 2026.
- Funso Doherty – Official Biography and Campaign Information.
- Adedeji Doherty – Official Campaign Biography and Policy Information.
- The Guardian Nigeria – Report on Funso Doherty’s 2027 Governorship Declaration.
- The Punch – Report on Funso Doherty’s Governorship Bid.
