The last piece of the puzzle fell into place on Thursday. Former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, long-rumoured to be plotting a return to Government House, issued a personally signed statement congratulating Deputy Governor Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat on his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
Hours earlier, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, who had purchased his APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms just the previous day, announced his withdrawal from the race.
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With Jandor being the only other aspirant besides Hamzat to have officially entered the race, the contest was effectively over before it started.
Ambode described Hamzat’s emergence as a product of loyalty, consistency, and sustained commitment to the party’s growth and unity, noting that Hamzat’s consultations with key stakeholders within the party reflected a deliberate effort to strengthen internal cohesion and advance the collective interests of Lagos State.
The statement was notable not only for what it said but for what it represented: the final sealing of a consensus that had been building, methodically, for weeks.
For his part, Jandor said: “We made it known from day one that we have a single aspiration — to contest the governorship of Lagos State in 2027. In line with our earlier position that we will align with the decision of the party and the President, I hereby announce my withdrawal.”
EKO HOT BLOG traces how the consensus came about:
How The Floodgates Opened
The process that produced Thursday’s consensus had a clear starting point. On April 10, James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives and chairman of the Finance Committee, publicly endorsed Hamzat via social media, calling on Lagosians to elect him governor in 2027.
Faleke’s move was significant. He was the first to direct his supporters in Ikeja to back Hamzat’s candidacy, doing so even before the deputy governor had formally declared his intention. It opened the floodgates.
Hamzat subsequently commenced consultations with key party leaders across the state, building the internal support base that Lagos APC succession politics demands.
Today, I began consultations with respected members of the Governance Advisory Council. We had honest, thoughtful conversations about the future of Lagos and the kind of leadership it requires.
I value the experience and guidance shared. This is about listening, learning and… pic.twitter.com/Wsuf14Qpcf
— Obafemi Hamzat (@drobafemihamzat) April 13, 2026
I visited the Apase of Epe Land and Member of the GAC, Alhaji Shakiru Akanni Seriki.
He offered useful perspective grounded in his deep roots in the community and years of service.
These continued engagements are vital for listening and staying connected to the people we… pic.twitter.com/TVVOz4JZZ0
— Obafemi Hamzat (@drobafemihamzat) April 17, 2026
On Monday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially endorsed his deputy as his preferred successor following a closed-door meeting at Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat formally declared his intention before members of the State Executive Council and key party leaders.
Sanwo-Olu left little room for ambiguity. “This is a deputy governor that is worth a governor from day one, this is a man that has been built for this job,” he said.
Today, I am honoured by the endorsement of my Governor, my brother and my friend, HE Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
His trust means a great deal to me. We’ve worked side by side in the service of Lagos State, and I don’t take this vote of confidence lightly.
I remain committed to… pic.twitter.com/PMIiRXfYR2
— Obafemi Hamzat (@drobafemihamzat) April 27, 2026
The GAC — the highest decision-making organ of the APC in Lagos — followed on Tuesday, endorsing Hamzat as consensus candidate at a closed-door strategic meeting at Lagos House, Marina. The 34-member council, led by chairman Prince Tajudeen Olusi, also resolved to purchase Hamzat’s N50 million governorship nomination form as a sign of full support.
Today, I was honoured to receive the unanimous endorsement of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) as the official APC Governorship candidate for Lagos in the 2027 elections.
Receiving this endorsement from the apex leaders of our dear party is indeed humbling and historic. One… pic.twitter.com/Zu7QKiue7N
— Obafemi Hamzat (@drobafemihamzat) April 28, 2026
Then came the definitive moment. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally endorsed Hamzat on Wednesday, with the endorsement made during a meeting with GAC members led by Olusi alongside Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Today, I was honoured to receive the unanimous endorsement of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) as the official APC Governorship candidate for Lagos in the 2027 elections.
Receiving this endorsement from the apex leaders of our dear party is indeed humbling and historic. One… pic.twitter.com/Zu7QKiue7N
— Obafemi Hamzat (@drobafemihamzat) April 28, 2026
With Tinubu’s blessing secured, the race was, for all practical purposes, over before the primary gun fired.
Hamzat’s Credentials and the Path Ahead
In a general election, Hamzat enters as a formidable proposition for any opposition candidate.
Before fully entering public service, Hamzat built a diverse professional career working with RTP Consulting Services, Columbia University, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Oando Plc, experiences that shaped his reputation as a technocrat with global exposure.
His record in government is equally substantial. Hamzat joined Lagos State public service in 2005 as Commissioner for Science and Technology under then-Governor Tinubu, where he automated government processes by introducing enterprise resource planning systems that improved administrative efficiency and eliminated ghost workers.
In 2011, Fashola appointed him Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, during which he oversaw major civil engineering projects including the completion of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Nigeria’s first cable-stayed bridge.
If he completes his current tenure in 2027, Hamzat will make history as the first deputy governor in Lagos since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 to serve eight consecutive years, a record that underscores both his durability and the trust successive administrations have placed in him.
FURTHER READING
Against an opposition that has struggled repeatedly to find its footing in Lagos, Hamzat’s name recognition, institutional depth, and the full weight of APC’s Lagos machinery behind him make him the firm favourite to succeed Sanwo-Olu in 2027.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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