Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Lagos, Nigeria – Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, has formally anointed his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as his chosen successor for the 2027 governorship election, dramatically reshaping the political landscape of Africa’s largest city. The announcement was made on Monday, April 27, 2026, following a closed‑door gathering at Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat officially declared his intention to run before an audience of the State Executive Council and senior leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meeting was attended by influential members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), including former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro and former Senator Ganiyu Solomon, alongside all 57 local government and local council development area chairmen. A viral video shows Sanwo‑Olu lifting Hamzat’s hand after a prayer, a gesture that was met with cheers from the assembled party faithful and effectively sealed the governor’s endorsement.
Addressing journalists after the gathering, Sanwo‑Olu described the decision as the unanimous will of all stakeholders. “It was unanimous with all of us to say that Mr Deputy Governor is a man who is fit and well‑prepared for this job,” he said. “He is a man who knows where all the rooms in the house are.” The governor praised Hamzat’s seven‑year record of “integrity, loyalty, commitment, and support,” and noted that the deputy had been “built for this job, from day one.” He also acknowledged the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he credited with shaping the political vision that has brought both men into leadership positions. “We thank our father, our leader, Mr President, who saw the vision that is already being manifested here today,” Sanwo‑Olu added.
Hamzat’s coronation as the preferred successor has been in the works for months, with the deputy governor undertaking a series of high‑profile consultations. On the eve of the endorsement, he met with Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who publicly declared his full support. “Dr Hamzat, you are a man of honour, and it shows by not taking things for granted,” Gbajabiamila told him. “I have confidence in your ability and capacity. Take my support for granted. My constituency, Surulere, is for you, and Lagos is for you.” The backing from the president’s chief gatekeeper is widely seen as a sign that the national leadership of the APC has already aligned behind Hamzat.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, who had earlier harboured his own governorship ambitions, has also shifted course and is now reportedly set to run for the House of Representatives seat for Agege Federal Constituency. Sources indicate that President Tinubu, in consultation with the Governance Advisory Council, has settled on Hamzat as the party’s consensus candidate, a development that forced other aspirants to recalibrate their strategies. The former governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Abdul‑Azeez Adediran (popularly known as Jandor) are among those who have been eyeing the ticket, but the consolidation of party elders behind Hamzat is likely to narrow the field.
Hamzat, 61, is a technocrat with an impressive resume. He holds a BSc in agricultural engineering and an MSc in crop processing engineering from the University of Ibadan, and a PhD in system process engineering from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom—a programme he completed in just three years, a record in his department. Before entering public service, he worked with RTP Consulting Services, Columbia University, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Oando Plc. He first joined the Lagos State public service in 2005 as Commissioner for Science and Technology under then‑Governor Bola Tinubu. He was retained by Governor Babatunde Fashola as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, where he oversaw major projects such as the Lekki‑Ikoyi Link Bridge and the expansion of the Lekki‑Epe expressway. In 2019, he was selected as Sanwo‑Olu’s running mate and has since served two full terms as deputy governor, making him the first deputy governor in Lagos to serve such a tenure.
His professional background and administrative experience have made him a natural successor in a party that prizes technocratic competence. His endorsers point to his deep understanding of the workings of government, his mastery of policy formulation, and his continuity agenda, which will likely resonate with a business community that values predictability. The governor’s explicit backing, combined with the support of the GAC and the president’s chief of staff, positions Hamzat as the clear front‑runner for the APC ticket.
Political observers note that while the endorsement is a major boost, the deputy governor still faces the procedural hurdle of winning the APC primary, which is scheduled for May 23, 2026. However, the consolidation of party elders behind his candidacy suggests that the race may not be competitive. Other aspirants such as Hakeem Muri‑Okunola, Principal Private Secretary to President Tinubu, and Senator Tokunbo Abiru have also been mentioned as potential candidates, but none have so far attracted the same level of institutional backing.
The formal endorsement of Hamzat is the first major step in what will be a long electoral season. For Sanwo‑Olu, who is completing his second and final term, the choice of his successor is a legacy‑defining decision. For Hamzat, the task now is to convert the governor’s blessing into votes and to carry the endorsement of the party leadership all the way to the ballot box. “This is a deputy governor that is worth a governor from day one,” Sanwo‑Olu said. “We believe that he deserves the chance to run this state.” The race has effectively begun.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments