A senior lawmaker has publicly endorsed Lagos’s deputy governor as the preferred successor to lead Nigeria’s commercial capital, in a sign of intensifying political positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.
James Faleke, who represents Ikeja federal constituency in the House of Representatives, declared his support for Obafemi Hamzat in a post on X, urging party members to rally behind him.
“Good evening all. As we prepare for party primaries next month, I urge all our supporters in Ikeja federal constituency and Lagos state to support Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the next governor of Lagos state from 2027–2035,” he wrote.
The endorsement comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) is said to be weighing a consensus arrangement for its governorship tickets in key south-west states, including Lagos.
Party insiders suggest Hamzat has emerged as a leading contender, while similar preferences are said to have crystallised around Olamilekan Adeola, widely known as Yayi, for Ogun State, and Sharafadeen Alli for Oyo State.
The reported alignments are understood to have followed consultations involving Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior APC stakeholders from across the region, including a meeting in Lagos on 23 March.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the meeting—attended by key figures such as the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; and governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun and Biodun Oyebanji—involved detailed deliberations on party strategy and candidate selection.
Another participant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the eventual preferences reflected both internal consensus and perceived electoral strength.
“The choices of Hamzat, Yayi and Alli were arrived at after a prolonged discussion with the president, taking into account the collective opinions of those present and the popularity of the candidates in their respective states,” the source said.
While the APC has yet to formally announce its candidates, Faleke’s intervention underscores the early consolidation of support around key figures, even as party primaries loom and negotiations continue behind the scenes.
