Sanwo-Olu Backs Hamzat for 2027 Lagos Governorship Race Amid Early APC Realignment

Political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gathered fresh momentum on Monday as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu publicly endorsed his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor for the governorship seat in the state.

The endorsement followed a high-level closed-door meeting held at Lagos House in Marina, where Hamzat formally informed members of the Lagos political establishment of his intention to contest the state’s top office when Sanwo-Olu completes his second term in 2027.

The meeting was attended by members of the Lagos State Executive Council, influential leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, and key figures within the Governor’s Advisory Council, the influential political body widely regarded as a major decision-making bloc in Lagos politics.

Among those present were former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and former senator Ganiyu Solomon, alongside other senior party stakeholders.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Sanwo-Olu described the endorsement of Hamzat as a collective decision reached after consultations among party leaders and government officials. According to the governor, the deputy governor possesses the administrative experience, political maturity and leadership capacity required to govern Africa’s largest commercial city.

Sanwo-Olu praised Hamzat for what he called years of loyal service, commitment and integrity, noting that the deputy governor had played a significant role in the administration’s governance structure since 2019.

“He is a man who knows where all the rooms in the house are,” the governor said while emphasising Hamzat’s familiarity with the workings of government and the complexities of managing Lagos State.

The governor also acknowledged the political influence of President Bola Tinubu, whom he credited for identifying both himself and Hamzat for leadership roles in Lagos over the years. Tinubu, a former Lagos governor and long-time political leader in the state, remains a dominant force in the APC’s political structure across the South-West.

Observers say Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement is significant because governorship succession in Lagos has historically been shaped by consensus among influential APC leaders and party blocs rather than prolonged primary contests. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Lagos has remained under the control of the same political family that evolved from the Alliance for Democracy to the Action Congress and later the APC.

Hamzat, an engineer and technocrat, previously served as Commissioner for Science and Technology and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure before becoming deputy governor in 2019. He is widely seen as one of the more experienced figures within the current administration, particularly in policy implementation and infrastructure development.

Political analysts believe the early endorsement may help stabilise internal party alignments and reduce potential rivalry ahead of the 2027 race, although other aspirants within the APC are still expected to emerge in the coming months.

The development also signals the beginning of strategic positioning within Lagos politics as major stakeholders prepare for another transition in a state regarded as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre and one of the country’s most politically influential territories.

While Hamzat has yet to officially unveil a campaign structure, Monday’s meeting is being viewed by party insiders as the clearest indication so far of the direction the Lagos APC leadership may take ahead of the next governorship election.