Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has initiated early political consultations with members of the Governance Advisory Council, a move seen as the opening phase of positioning ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Hamzat revealed via his X (formerly Twitter) account that he met with the influential caucus on Monday, describing the engagement as “thoughtful conversations about the future of Lagos and the kind of leadership it requires.”
“I value the experience and guidance shared. This is about listening, learning and working with others to build a stronger Lagos,” he stated.
The development has drawn attention to the internal dynamics of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, where candidate selection is often shaped through structured consultations long before formal primaries.
The Governance Advisory Council, currently led by Tajudeen Olusi, is widely regarded as the most powerful decision-making bloc within the Lagos APC. Its membership includes key political figures such as President Bola Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside other veteran politicians and stakeholders.
As a senior caucus of party elders, the council plays a central role in major political decisions, including succession planning, zoning arrangements and strategic endorsements within the state.
Observers say Hamzat’s outreach aligns with established political traditions in Lagos, where governorship aspirants typically begin consultations years ahead of elections to build consensus within the party hierarchy.
Meanwhile, speculation has intensified on social media, with some unverified claims suggesting that internal support may already be coalescing around the deputy governor. One Lagos-based political commentary account alleged that a member of the council, Otunba Alebiosu, was visibly emotional following what it described as Hamzat’s endorsement—though this remains unconfirmed.
The consultations also follow earlier backing from the Justice Forum, a political group in the state, which endorsed Hamzat’s potential candidacy.
Previous reports had indicated that Hamzat could emerge as a consensus candidate for the APC in the 2027 Lagos governorship race, further fueling discussions around succession in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
