Lagos State Deputy Governor and governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 election, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, on Monday, hailed the vote of confidence and endorsement by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his ambition.
Sanwo-Olu, earlier on Monday, had announced the endorsement of Hamzat as his preferred successor and APC candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos.
The announcement followed a closed-door meeting at Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat formally declared his intention to contest the governorship seat before members of the State Executive Council and key party leaders.
Also present at the meeting were members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, including former Minister of State, Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Ganiyu Solomon, among others.
Hamzat, in a message on X, wrote: “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 building on the progress we’ve made together, and look forward to serving Lagosians with integrity, focus and a clear sense of purpose.”
Hamzat is among the aspirants jostling for the seat, with others, including Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly called Jandor, and Dr Samuel Ajose, popularly known as SMA Gold, also consulting.
The had exclusively reported that Hamzat may emerge as the consensus candidate of the APC for the governorship election in the state.
Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement for Hamzat followed similar endorsements by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Governor Babatunde Fashola, the Justice Forum members, among others.
The development signals an early alignment within the ruling APC in Lagos as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing journalists after the meeting at the Lagos House, Marina, on Monday, Sanwo-Olu described the endorsement as a unanimous decision reached by stakeholders present.
He described Hamzat as prepared and capable of leading 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.
“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, support, and 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 had been instrumental in the discovery of himself and Hamzat, as well as their working relationship.
“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.
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.