Lagos 2027: Sanwo-Olu settles succession debate, endorses deputy Hamzat for Governor

The race for the Alausa Roundhouse in 2027 gained significant clarity on Monday as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially broke his silence on the succession plan, declaring his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as the best-suited candidate to take over the mantle of leadership in Lagos State.

​The high-stakes endorsement took place during a strategic gathering at the Lagos House, Marina, attended by the state’s executive council, prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, and all 57 local government and LCDA chairmen. The move is seen as a definitive attempt to consolidate the party’s internal structure and forestall the friction that often accompanies transition periods in Nigeria’s economic capital.

​Speaking on the rationale behind the choice, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Hamzat as a “well-baked” administrator whose deep immersion in the state’s governance blueprint makes him the natural successor. He emphasized that the decision was the product of extensive consultations and a unanimous consensus among the state’s top political stakeholders.

​“With the consultation that we’re doing, it was unanimous with all of us in that room to say that the deputy governor is a man who’s fit and ready,” Sanwo-Olu said. “He’s been well manicured and prepared for this job.”

​The endorsement comes on the heels of intensified diplomatic maneuvering by the deputy governor. Only 24 hours prior, Hamzat led a high-powered delegation—including former Minister Musiliu Obanikoro and Senator Ganiyu Solomon—to meet with Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu. During the meeting, Obanikoro underscored Hamzat’s political pedigree, framing him as a candidate who is “well-grounded” and essential for maintaining the continuity of the APC’s governance model.

​Accepting the gesture, Dr. Hamzat framed his ambition within the broader context of national stability. He argued that the economic foundation laid by President Tinubu must be protected through disciplined leadership at the state level.

​”The party must get it right in picking its governorship aspirant to maintain the governance structure in Lagos State,” Hamzat stated via his official channels, signaling that his focus remains on “strengthening Lagos and delivering better outcomes.”

​While the endorsement provides Hamzat with a formidable head start, the political landscape remains dynamic. Other factions within the APC and the opposition have previously noted that the President has yet to issue a formal directive on the matter. However, with Sanwo-Olu’s public backing and the apparent support of the state’s local government machinery, the deputy governor has firmly established himself as the man to beat in the upcoming primary contest.