- Ikuforiji backs Hamzat, pledges APC mobilisation in Epe.
- He urges focus on Epe as economic hub (fishing, tourism, infrastructure).
- The speaker stresses party unity, continuity, and alignment with the Tinubu agenda.
Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has thrown his weight behind the governorship ambition of Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, backing his bid ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries and urging him to prioritise the development of Epe as a strategic economic hub.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the endorsement came during a recent consultative visit by Hamzat to Ikuforiji as part of his ongoing engagements with key stakeholders and power brokers within the Lagos APC ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for May.
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The meeting, though brief, was described by insiders as significant, with discussions centred on Hamzat’s readiness for leadership, party cohesion, and the strategic direction of governance in Lagos.
Sources familiar with the interaction said Ikuforiji expressed confidence in Hamzat’s capacity to lead the state, citing his political pedigree and long-standing involvement in public service.
However, the former Speaker is understood to have framed his support within a set of expectations, particularly around performance, inclusivity, and continuity.
Central to the conversation was the place of Epe in the evolving political and economic calculus of Lagos State. Both men share political roots in Ward A4 of the division, a factor said to have reinforced the emphasis on Epe’s developmental prospects.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that Ikuforiji urged Hamzat to give deliberate attention to Epe and its surrounding communities, positioning the area as a potential economic hub with strengths in fishing, tourism, and other productive sectors capable of contributing more significantly to the state’s economy if properly harnessed.
The former speaker also assured the deputy governor of political support within the division, pledging to mobilise party members, existing grassroots structures, and APC leadership in Epe to back Hamzat’s aspiration as the primary approaches.
Beyond regional considerations, the meeting reportedly touched on broader governance expectations.
Ikuforiji emphasised the need for unity within the APC, noting that Hamzat’s path to both the party ticket and eventual governance would depend heavily on his ability to manage internal differences, build consensus, and sustain stability across factions.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of maintaining the developmental trajectory established by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu through his Renewed Hope agenda, while creating room for policy innovation and more inclusive governance.
The consultation with Ikuforiji forms part of a wider outreach by the deputy governor to influential figures within the Lagos political establishment, particularly members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), widely regarded as the apex decision-making body of the APC in the state.
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With no other major aspirant publicly in contention, Hamzat’s ongoing consultations are increasingly being seen as consolidating elite backing ahead of the primaries, even as stakeholders continue to weigh expectations around leadership style, regional balance, and policy direction.
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