President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly endorsed Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress’s governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos election, a development already stirring political conversations in the state.
The endorsement followed a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where members of the party’s influential Governance Advisory Council, led by chairman Tajudeen Olusi, formally presented Hamzat to the President.
The move is being viewed as a significant signal ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly given the influence the Governance Advisory Council has historically wielded in shaping political succession in Lagos.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Hamzat confirmed that party elders had introduced him to Tinubu and that the President gave his blessing to both his candidacy 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,” Hamzat said, while expressing appreciation for the endorsement.
He added that he was excited by the support and described Tinubu’s approval as a blessing for the decision reached by the party leadership.
For many political observers, the development is likely to be interpreted as an early consolidation move within Lagos APC, where succession planning often begins long before election season formally opens.
Hamzat, who has served as deputy governor under Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has long been seen as a prominent figure within the state’s political structure, but this endorsement appears to lend greater credibility to speculation.
Tinubu’s backing also carries symbolic weight, given his longstanding influence over Lagos politics and his role in shaping many of the state’s political transitions over the years.
While the 2027 race remains some distance away, the endorsement could reshape early calculations among party stakeholders and potential contenders.
For now, the development signals that conversations around Lagos succession may have started much earlier than many expected.
