The road is now clear for the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, to get the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contest in the 2027 elections in the Centre of Excellence.
On Monday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu endorsed Hamzat as his preferred successor from May 29, 2027.
He said: “We just received Mr Deputy, who had come with a very powerful delegation of our leaders in the state to inform us of his intention to contest for the seat of the governorship position of the state.
“It was unanimous with all of us to say that Mr Deputy Governor is a man who is fit and well-prepared for this job. He is a man who knows where all the rooms in the house are”.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted Hamzat’s experience and working relationship with him over the past seven years, noting his “integrity, loyalty, commitment and support” as defining qualities.
“He is a man who has worked with me at the highest level of integrity, loyalty, commitment and support. So, I feel personally honoured and privileged that he has given me this honour to inform me,” he said.
The governor thanked President Bola Tinubu, who he said is instrumental to the discovery of himself and Hamzat, as well as their working relationship.
“We thank our father, our leader, President Bola Tinubu, who saw the vision. That long run is what is already being manifested here today,” he added.
Describing Hamzat as ready for leadership, Sanwo-Olu said, “This is a deputy governor that is worth a governor from day one, this is a man that has been built for this job, and we believe that he deserves to be given a chance to go and run this state”.
He further characterised the meeting as a consultative process involving party leaders and government officials, noting that the endorsement followed broad agreement among stakeholders.
“It’s been a very warm family meeting, and at the end of the day, it was unanimous that Mr Deputy Governor is fit, ready, well baked for this job”, he said.
