2027 Lagos Race: Tinubu, GAC Endorses Obafemi Hamzat

2027 Lagos Race: Tinubu, GAC Endorses Obafemi Hamzat

President Bola Tinubu has formally endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election following a crucial meeting with members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The endorsement marks a major political development in Lagos ahead of the 2027 governorship race and further strengthens Hamzat’s position within the ruling APC structure in the state.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Obafemi Hamzat described the endorsement as a vote of confidence from respected political leaders who believe in his capacity to lead Lagos State.

“These are fathers, they are leaders, they’ve seen a lot of Christmas, they’ve seen a lot of Eid El Kabir, so they have experience, therefore I’m really excited that they brought me here to meet Mr President, and Mr President has blessed us and blessed the decision of GAC,” Hamzat said.

The deputy governor acknowledged the enormous responsibility attached to governing Lagos but expressed confidence in his experience after serving under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu since 2019.

“Nobody is ready because the assignment is audacious. But what you have is experience. Having served as Deputy Governor, I’ve learnt a lot. I know the room. I know where the kitchen is. With God’s blessings and the support of all my fathers here, I really don’t have any fear,” he added.

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The endorsement by President Tinubu came barely 24 hours after the 34-member Governance Advisory Council (GAC) unanimously adopted Hamzat as its consensus candidate during a strategic meeting at Lagos House, Marina.

The GAC, widely regarded as the highest political decision-making body within the Lagos APC, reportedly also pledged to purchase Hamzat’s ₦50 million nomination form as a show of total support and party unity ahead of the primaries.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earlier publicly declared Hamzat as his preferred successor during a gathering with party stakeholders in Lagos.

Political observers believe the back-to-back endorsements from both Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu significantly position Hamzat as the frontrunner in the race to succeed the incumbent governor in 2027.

Despite the consensus arrangement, GAC leaders clarified that the APC governorship primary election scheduled for May 21 would still hold in line with the party’s constitutional guidelines.

Nomination forms for aspirants are expected to close on May 4.

Reacting to criticism from some party members over the adoption process, GAC chairman Tajudeen Olusi defended the decision, insisting that consensus remains a legitimate political strategy within democratic systems.

“We are in the arena of politics and people are free to express their opinions in a free society. But I have been in politics for a very long time. It is part of the system that we come together, put our heads together and take a course of action,” Olusi stated.

Dr. Obafemi Hamzat is an engineer and seasoned technocrat who previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode before becoming deputy governor in 2019.

His emergence as the APC consensus candidate signals continuity within the political structure established by President Tinubu in Lagos over two decades ago.

The latest endorsement is expected to reshape political alignments within the Lagos APC as consultations and campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election intensify.

2027 Lagos Race: Tinubu, GAC Endorses Obafemi Hamzat