President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday formally endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flagbearer for the 2027 election.
The endorsement followed a high-level meeting between the President and members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Hamzat, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, said the delegation, led by GAC chairman, Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, presented him to the President, who subsequently gave his approval.
“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, Hamzat acknowledged the scale 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 Babajide 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,” he added.
The endorsement followed a series of political moves in Lagos, with Sanwo-Olu earlier declaring Hamzat his preferred successor and publicly raising his hand alongside Olusi at Lagos House.
The GAC subsequently ratified the decision at a special meeting, adopting Hamzat as its consensus candidate and resolving to purchase his ₦50 million nomination form as a show of support.
Addressing journalists after the Villa meeting, Olusi dismissed criticisms from other aspirants, including APC chieftain Samuel Ajose, who questioned the consensus process.
“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. It is part of the system that we come together, put our heads together and take a course of action,” he said.
He added that while individuals were entitled to their views, the council’s decision reflected collective agreement among party leaders.
Despite the consensus arrangement, party leaders said governorship primaries would still hold in line with APC guidelines.
The primaries are scheduled for May 21, 2026, while submission of nomination forms closes on May 4.