The Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has declared Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The endorsement followed a high-level meeting of party leaders held at the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa on Monday, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu publicly threw his weight behind his deputy.
Sanwo-Olu described Hamzat as the “best man for the job,” offering prayers for him and wishing him strength, peace, and divine guidance in his future political journey. At the end of the meeting, the governor embraced Hamzat and raised his hand before party leaders in a symbolic gesture that was met with applause.
Reaffirming the position of the party’s apex council on Tuesday at Lagos House, Marina, GAC Chairman Tajudeen Olusi said the council had unanimously agreed on Hamzat’s candidacy.
“We have adopted, and we have all agreed, that Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the current deputy governor of our state, is the consensus candidate of our party. And we have all pledged to stand by him. That is the information,” Olusi said.
In a further display of unity, Olusi and Governor Sanwo-Olu jointly raised Hamzat’s hand before party leaders present at the briefing, drawing another round of applause.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that party elders had resolved to financially support Hamzat’s ambition by collectively purchasing his nomination form.
“Additional information is that all of my leaders and fathers here have tasked themselves that they are going to fund the nomination form for the deputy governor, who is our consensus candidate,” he said.
“They have all levied themselves, even from their savings as retirees, saying they are the ones who will buy him the form for his nomination.”
The development comes amid growing political discussions within Lagos APC circles over potential contenders for the 2027 governorship race, with Hamzat increasingly viewed as a frontrunner.
However, not all party stakeholders have fully confirmed a concluded decision. Former governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, had earlier dismissed reports suggesting that the party had settled on any preferred aspirant.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Gbenga Ogunleye, Jandor maintained that no formal resolution had been reached, while noting that he would align with whatever decision the party ultimately arrives at if a consensus candidate is formally adopted.
Boluwatife Enome
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