On Monday, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared his deputy “worth a governor from day one,” embracing him and raising his hand before a room full of party elders as his preferred successor. For those familiar with Obafemi Hamzat’s trajectory, that move was more than an endorsement. It was the closing of a circle that had been quietly drawing tighter for over a decade.
Breaking: 2027-Hamzat is the best man for the job, Sanwo-Olu. pic.twitter.com/f3ZIpSGdDF
— Gboyega Akosile (@gboyegaakosile) April 27, 2026
As EKO HOT BLOG has reported for weeks, Hamzat is firmly in the driver’s seat to become the nominee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos. He is understood to have the backing of most members of the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), the most powerful decision-making organ in Lagos APC politics, as well as the public support of key Tinubu allies including federal lawmaker James Faleke.
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With no rival aspirant in sight and party primaries expected in the first half of May, Hamzat’s journey to Government House, Alausa, appears to be closer to its destination more than ever.
But the road here was neither straight nor short.
The Foundation: Tinubu’s Commissioner
Hamzat’s political formation began in 2005, when then-Governor Bola Tinubu appointed him Commissioner for Science and Technology in Lagos State. It was his first major public office, and it planted him firmly inside the Lagos APC machinery at a formative moment. He retained the position under Governor Babatunde Fashola, who later moved him to the more visible portfolio of Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in 2011, a role that put his name on roads, bridges, and projects that Lagosians could see and feel.
By the time Fashola’s tenure was ending in 2014, Hamzat had built enough of a profile to be considered a credible successor. Fashola reportedly viewed him as a viable option — his Plan B — though his personal preference was Olasupo Shasore. Neither choice, however, would prevail against the will of the Lagos power establishment.
2014: The First Defeat
At the December 2014 APC governorship primary, Hamzat ran and lost. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos GAC’s preferred candidate, won convincingly with 3,735 votes. Hamzat finished second with 1,201 votes. Ganiyu Solomon placed third with 272 votes, and Adeyemi Ikuforiji — who received Hamzat’s consultation visit just days ago and endorsed him — finished fourth with 182 votes.
The irony is not lost on those who have followed Lagos politics closely: men who competed against Hamzat in 2014 are now part of the establishment welcoming his candidacy in 2026.
2018: The Strategic Sacrifice
Four years later, Hamzat tried again. He entered the 2019 governorship race with serious intent, building a campaign and a following. But on September 29, 2018, a day before the APC primary, he stood before cameras and stepped down and step down to support his current boss.
“After due consultations with my numerous supporters and in deference to the wise counsel of those I consider my political mentors, I have resolved to step down from the governorship race in Lagos and instead pool resources together with my brother and friend, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” he said.
It was a carefully worded statement from a man who understood that in Lagos APC, the timing of loyalty matters as much as loyalty itself. He accepted the deputy governorship slot on Sanwo-Olu’s ticket. They won. He had traded a shot at the top job for a guaranteed seat at the table and a future favour that has now been repaid in full.
The Long Wait And What It Built
Two terms as deputy governor. Eight years in an office that carries responsibility without ultimate authority. If he completes his current tenure in 2027, Hamzat will become the first deputy governor in Lagos since the return of democracy in 1999 to serve eight consecutive years, longer than any of his predecessors, including Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Olufemi Pedro, and Idiat Adebule.
That longevity is itself a political asset. He knows the government from the inside. He has relationships across every stratum of the Lagos APC. And now, the man whose hand he helped steady in 2018 has returned the gesture: publicly, ceremonially, and without ambiguity.
FURTHER READING
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
For Hamzat, the twelve-year wait may be almost over.
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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