Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has emerged as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Lagos State ahead of the 2027 election, winning the party’s direct primary held across the state on Wednesday.
Hamzat, the current deputy governor serving under Babajide Sanwo-Olu, defeated his main challenger, Lanre Jim-Kamal. He described the process as peaceful, transparent, and reflective of internal democracy within the APC, and commended members for their turnout and orderly participation.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who publicly supported Hamzat’s candidacy, said the direct primary allowed grassroots members to choose their preferred aspirant. He described the exercise as calm, inclusive, and credible.
Hamzat’s emergence followed endorsements from key APC structures in Lagos, including the Governor’s Advisory Council. Before the primary, other aspirants including Babajide Adeniran, known as Jandor, and Samuel Mawuyon Àjọṣe, known as SMA Gold, stepped down in his favor.
Speaking after voting in his Epe ward, Hamzat said the primary was a contest of ideas and service rather than conflict. “It’s a competition of ideas. How do we move our people forward? So we intend to move people forward, to develop the state; we don’t need to fight,” he said.
APC Chairman Pastor Ojelabi and the INEC-led seven-member primary committee said the process followed party guidelines and electoral law. Returning Officer Kayode Eleshin announced that Hamzat secured 2,210 votes in Ward A4 at Ansar-u-deen Primary School in Epe, with 2,432 members accredited out of 2,720 registered members.
Hamzat first contested the Lagos APC ticket in 2015 and stepped down for Sanwo-Olu in 2018 before becoming deputy governor.
