President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.
The endorsement was said to have emerged during a strategic meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja between the President and members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex political decision-making body of the APC in Lagos State.
Sources familiar with the meeting disclosed that the delegation was led by senior APC chieftain, Tajudeen Olusi, alongside Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, where discussions reportedly centred on succession planning and party stability ahead of the next election cycle.
According to party insiders, members of the GAC unanimously adopted Hamzat as the preferred consensus candidate of the ruling party, with President Tinubu subsequently giving his approval and political backing to the decision.
The development is widely seen as a major political signal within the Lagos APC and an early move toward consolidating internal support ahead of the 2027 governorship contest.
Governor Sanwo-Olu was also reported to have openly supported Hamzat’s emergence as his preferred successor, further strengthening the deputy governor’s standing within the state’s political structure.
Party sources further revealed that mobilisation efforts have already commenced across party structures in Lagos, with some APC stakeholders allegedly coordinating early support mechanisms for Hamzat’s anticipated candidacy.
The endorsement is expected to significantly influence the internal dynamics of the Lagos APC, especially as political consultations and alignments ahead of 2027 continue to intensify within the ruling party.
Observers believe the move reflects the APC leadership’s preference for continuity, stability and preservation of the existing political structure in Lagos State.
Hamzat, who currently serves as deputy governor under the Sanwo-Olu administration, has long been regarded as one of the influential technocratic figures within the Lagos APC establishment.
Political analysts note that the reported endorsement may discourage potential internal challengers while positioning Hamzat as the leading figure in the emerging succession race.
Although the APC is yet to make any official public declaration regarding the governorship ticket, the endorsement by influential party stakeholders and President Tinubu is expected to shape political calculations within the party moving forward.
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