The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has formally begun making a case for the state’s Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as its preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election. The party’s decision is rooted in a call for continuity and preparedness, highlighting Hamzat’s extensive experience in both government and the private sector.
Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC spokesman, articulated the party’s stance, arguing that Hamzat represents the best choice for Lagos voters due to his deep understanding of governance and his commitment to the state’s developmental agenda. The endorsement signals an early commencement of political maneuvering ahead of the crucial election cycle.
By 2027, the incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would have completed his constitutionally mandated two terms, paving the way for a new leadership. The APC’s early advocacy for Hamzat underscores a desire to maintain the party’s long-standing grip on the state’s political landscape, which it has controlled since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Hamzat’s Profile and Political Trajectory
Kadri Obafemi Hamzat brings a significant wealth of experience to the table. Before becoming Deputy Governor in 2019, he served in various capacities within the Lagos State government, demonstrating his administrative prowess. Notably, he was Commissioner for Science and Technology from 2005 to 2011 under Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and later under Governor Babatunde Fashola. He also served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in the execution of key infrastructural projects across the state.
His private sector background, which the APC spokesman often references, includes a career in information technology and telecommunications, providing him with insights into modern governance and digital transformation. This blend of public and private sector experience is central to the party’s argument for his ‘preparedness’ to lead Africa’s fifth-largest economy.
Mogaji Seye Oladejo, in statements to the press, emphasised that Hamzat’s consistent involvement in key government policies and projects over nearly two decades positions him uniquely to ensure seamless transition and sustained progress. “The choice before Lagos voters is clear: someone who understands the intricacies of governance in a complex megacity like Lagos, someone who has been part of our success story, and someone who embodies continuity and preparedness,” Oladejo reportedly stated, as covered by Tribune Online.
The current administration, led by Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Hamzat, has overseen various development initiatives in infrastructure, health, education, and technology. The APC’s narrative suggests that Hamzat’s continued leadership would ensure these projects reach fruition and that the state’s long-term master plan remains on track.
Implications for Lagos Politics
This early declaration by the Lagos APC is expected to shape the political discourse in the coming months. It sets the stage for potential jostling among other aspirants within the party who may have governorship ambitions. While the APC in Lagos has a history of presenting a formidable united front, often following the direction of influential party leaders, such early endorsements can sometimes create internal friction.
For opposition parties in Lagos, this move presents both a challenge and an opportunity. They will likely scrutinise Hamzat’s record and the current administration’s performance, seeking to highlight areas where continuity might not be beneficial or where a fresh approach is needed. The race for the 2027 governorship is crucial, given Lagos State’s economic significance as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and its substantial electoral strength.
The focus will now shift to how other potential candidates, both within and outside the APC, react to this development. Observers anticipate intensified political activities, including covert and overt campaigns, as the countdown to the party primaries and the general election begins in earnest.
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