By: Olayinka Ganiyu
President Bola Tinubu has formally endorsed the 2027 governorship ambition of Obafemi Hamzat.
President Bola Tinubu has formally endorsed the 2027 governorship ambition of Obafemi Hamzat, effectively putting to rest lingering speculation about the acceptability of his candidature within the party’s power structure.
The endorsement was disclosed on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, following a meeting between Tinubu and members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the State House in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the president backed Hamzat as the consensus governorship candidate of the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the meeting, which was attended by key party stakeholders. Among those present were Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tajudeen Olusi, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tokunbo Abiru, and Musiliu Obanikoro.
Photographs shared from the meeting show Tinubu and Hamzat holding the nomination form, flanked by Sanwo-Olu and Olusi, symbolising a coordinated show of unity and endorsement from the party’s highest decision-making bloc in the state.
The president’s backing comes less than 48 hours after Governor Sanwo-Olu publicly declared his support for Hamzat, describing him as the “best man for the job” during a gathering with party leaders at Lagos House, Alausa. In a symbolic gesture, the governor raised Hamzat’s hand before attendees, drawing widespread applause.
Further consolidating his position, the GAC regarded as the apex leadership body of the APC in Lagos also threw its weight behind Hamzat shortly after. Speaking at a meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, Olusi confirmed that council members had unanimously agreed to adopt Hamzat as the party’s consensus candidate for the upcoming governorship election.
Taken together, these coordinated endorsements from the presidency, the sitting governor, and the GAC appear to decisively settle internal debates, reinforcing Hamzat’s standing as the party’s preferred successor in Lagos.