President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday formally endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flagbearer for the 2027 election, following a high-level meeting with the party’s Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Hamzat, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, said the delegation, led by GAC Chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, had come to present him to the President, who subsequently gave his blessing to both him and the council’s decision.
“These are fathers, they are leaders, they’ve seen a lot of Christmases, they’ve seen a lot of Eid El Kabir, so they have experience, and therefore I’m really, really excited that they brought me here to meet Mr President, and Mr President has blessed us and blessed the decision of GAC,” he said.
Responding to questions on his preparedness for the governorship race, the deputy governor admitted the enormity of the task but expressed confidence in his experience.
“Nobody is ready because the assignment is audacious. But what you have is experience. Having served as Deputy Governor of Lagos under Governor Sanwo-Olu, I’ve learned a lot. I know the room. I know where the kitchen is.
“You know, if you want to cook for people and you don’t know the kitchen, doesn’t matter how good a chef you are, you must know the kitchen.
“So with God’s blessings and the support of all my fathers here, I really don’t have any fear,” Hamzat added.
Wednesday’s endorsement comes amid a flurry of political developments in Lagos, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu having publicly declared Hamzat his preferred successor on Monday, jointly raising his hand alongside Olusi at Lagos House.
The GAC followed up with a unanimous endorsement on Tuesday after a special meeting at Lagos House, Marina, adopting Hamzat as its consensus candidate.
The 34-member council also resolved to purchase his ₦50 million governorship nomination form as a demonstration of full backing.
Addressing reporters after the Villa meeting, Olusi dismissed objections raised by other aspirants, including APC chieftain Samuel Ajose, who had questioned the legitimacy of the consensus arrangement.
“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. I was part of the team that raised the system and have been part of every typical race, I know all the governors except one.
“It is part of the system that we come together, put our heads together and take a course of action. People are free to comment, but what they comment on is nothing with all of us,” Olusi said.
The delegation to the Presidential Villa included Governor Sanwo-Olu, who also addressed journalists in Yoruba, alongside other prominent members of the Lagos APC leadership.
Despite the consensus endorsement, the party leadership reiterated that governorship primaries would still be conducted in line with APC guidelines to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
The party’s governorship primaries are scheduled for May 21, 2026, while submission of nomination forms closes on May 4.
