Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially thrown his weight behind his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, to succeed him in 2027, ending months of speculation regarding the South-West state’s political future.
Sanwo-Olu made the high-profile endorsement during a stakeholders’ meeting over the weekend, describing Hamzat as a “reliable and competent partner” who has been instrumental in the administration’s “Greater Lagos” agenda.
”There is no need to look further when the most qualified person is sitting right beside me,” Sanwo-Olu told a gathering of party faithful. “Dr. Hamzat has shown exceptional leadership, loyalty, and a deep understanding of our developmental roadmap. He is the best hand to take the baton.”
The endorsement is seen as a move to ensure continuity in Nigeria’s commercial nerve center, where infrastructure projects and economic reforms have dominated the current administration’s first and second terms.
Hamzat, a veteran of Lagos politics and a former Commissioner for Works, has served as deputy governor since 2019. His partnership with Sanwo-Olu has been widely cited as one of the most stable executive relationships in the country’s current democratic dispensation.
Responding to the endorsement, Hamzat expressed gratitude for the governor’s confidence, promising to uphold the legacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
”I am humbled by this gesture,” Hamzat stated. “Our goal remains the same: a prosperous, safe, and modern Lagos. We will continue to serve our people with the same vigor we started with.”
The move is expected to reshape the political landscape within the APC in Lagos, as other potential aspirants now face the daunting task of challenging the governor’s “anointed” successor.
While the next gubernatorial election is still years away, ANN analysts say Sanwo-Olu’s early declaration is a strategic attempt to prevent internal friction and consolidate the party’s power base ahead of the 2027 polls.
