Sanwo-Olu Endorses Hamzat for Lagos State Governor 2027

By Aluko Adeyemi

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday formally endorsed his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election, marking an early political realignment within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The endorsement followed a closed-door meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat officially declared his intention to contest for the governorship seat before members of the State Executive Council and key party stakeholders.

Also present at the meeting were members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, including political heavyweights such as former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Ganiyu Solomon, alongside other senior party figures.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Sanwo-Olu described the endorsement as a unanimous decision reached by all stakeholders in attendance, stressing that Hamzat’s track record and experience made him the ideal candidate to succeed him.

“We just received Mr Deputy, who had come with a very powerful delegation of our leaders in the state to inform us of his intention to contest for the seat of the governorship position of the state,” the governor said.

“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 is a man who knows where all the rooms in the house are.”

Sanwo-Olu further highlighted Hamzat’s long-standing working relationship with him, noting that their partnership over the past seven years had been defined by what he described as integrity, loyalty, and commitment to governance.

“He is a man who has worked with me at the highest level of integrity, loyalty, commitment, support, and so I feel personally honoured and privileged that he has given me this honour to inform me,” he added.

The governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, crediting him with playing a pivotal role in shaping the leadership trajectory of both himself and Hamzat, as well as strengthening their political collaboration within Lagos.

“We thank our father, our leader, Mr President, who saw the vision… that long run is what is already being manifested here today,” he said.

Describing Hamzat as fully prepared for leadership, Sanwo-Olu insisted that his deputy had been groomed for the top job and deserved the opportunity to lead Lagos State.

“This is a deputy governor that is worth a governor from day one. This is a man that has been built for this job, and we believe that he deserves to be given a chance to go and run this state,” he stated.

He further characterised the gathering as a consultative and family-oriented meeting involving key party stakeholders and government officials, adding that the decision reflected a broad consensus within the APC structure in Lagos.

“It’s been a very warm family meeting, and at the end of the day, it was unanimous that Mr Deputy Governor is fit, ready, well baked… for this job,” he said.

The endorsement signals the beginning of early political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, with analysts noting that Lagos politics is once again witnessing strategic alignments within the APC as succession discussions gradually take centre stage.