Lagos 2027: Sanwo-Olu endorses deputy Hamzat as preferred successor

The political landscape of Lagos State shifted decisively on Monday as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially threw his weight behind his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, to succeed him in the 2027 governorship election.

The high-stakes endorsement was finalized during a closed-door strategy session at the Lagos House, Marina. The meeting served as the stage for Hamzat to formally declare his gubernatorial ambitions before a powerhouse audience comprising the State Executive Council and the influential Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), including veterans like former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Ganiyu Solomon.

Emerging from the consultations, Governor Sanwo-Olu painted the endorsement as a collective pact among the state’s political heavyweights. He framed Hamzat not merely as a candidate, but as a seasoned administrator who is intimately familiar with the machinery of the state.

“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,” the governor said.

Lauding his deputy’s readiness, Sanwo-Olu noted, “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.”

The Governor was effusive in his praise for the partnership the duo has shared since 2019, citing a rare brand of political fidelity that has underpinned their administration.

Read also: Tinubu tasks new envoys on investment drive to Nigeria

“He is a man who has worked with me at the highest level of integrity, loyalty, commitment, support, and so I feel personally honoured and privileged that he has given me this honour to inform me,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also took a moment to acknowledge President Bola Tinubu, crediting the President’s foresight in pairing the two leaders years ago. “We thank our father, our leader, Mr President, who saw the vision… that long run is what is already being manifested here today,” he added.

Characterizing the endorsement as a natural evolution of leadership, the Governor dismissed any doubts regarding Hamzat’s capacity to take the reins. He described the atmosphere of the announcement as a “warm family meeting” that culminated in a solid consensus.

“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,” Sanwo-Olu emphasized.

Concluding his address, he reaffirmed the strength of the choice: “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.”

This early alignment within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) effectively fires the starting gun for the 2027 cycle. By securing the Governor’s public backing and the apparent blessing of the GAC, Hamzat enters the race with a significant institutional advantage as the party begins to consolidate its ranks.

The post Lagos 2027: Sanwo-Olu endorses deputy Hamzat as preferred successor appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.