Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, claims he has secured President Tinubu’s endorsement for his 2027 governorship bid.
He made the disclosure on Wednesday after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists, Hamzat said the delegation, led by GAC Chairman Prince Tajudeen Olusi, formally presented him to the President and received his backing for the council’s decision to support his candidature.
“These are fathers, they are leaders, they’ve seen a lot of Christmases, they’ve seen a lot of Eid El Kabir, so they have experience, and therefore I’m really, really excited that they brought me here to meet Mr President, and Mr President has blessed us and blessed the decision of GAC”, he said.
He described the governorship assignment as “audacious”, but said his experience as Deputy Governor had prepared him for the task ahead.
“Nobody is ready because the assignment is audacious. But what you have is experience. Having served as Deputy Governor of Lagos under Governor Sanwo-Olu, I’ve learned a lot. I know the room. I know where the kitchen is”, he said.
“You know, if you want to cook for people and you don’t know the kitchen, it doesn’t matter how good a chef you are, you must know the kitchen. So with God’s blessings and the support of all my fathers here, I really don’t have any fear”.
The meeting at the Villa followed a series of endorsements within 72 hours, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s public backing of Hamzat as his preferred successor, as well as the GAC’s unanimous adoption of him at a meeting held at Lagos House, Marina.
The 34-member council also reportedly resolved to purchase Hamzat’s N50 million governorship nomination form in support of his ambition.
GAC Chairman, Tajudeen Olusi, said the council’s decision reflected collective agreement, adding that while objections from other aspirants existed, the party would still conduct primaries in line with APC guidelines to ensure internal democracy.
