Political realignments within the Lagos State ruling class are rapidly accelerating as Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat mobilises the establishment to secure the state’s next gubernatorial ticket. Stepping out of the traditional administrative shadows of the deputy role, Hamzat has launched a high-stakes consultative tour, extracting pivotal endorsements from key national and state political figures in a move that strongly signals the direction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) succession plan.
The succession narrative gained undeniable momentum this week after former Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, publicly threw their weight behind the deputy governor. These declarations occurred during strategic closed-door engagements at the residences of the two power brokers, marking a critical phase in Hamzat’s bid to eventually succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Positioning his candidacy on the twin pillars of party loyalty and administrative continuity, Hamzat described the ongoing consultations as essential to securing the party’s foundation.
“What we are doing is to strengthen the party and ensure continuity in governance,” Hamzat told stakeholders during the visits, noting that he was seeking the advice, prayers, and support of established leaders. He emphasised that maintaining unity is crucial to sustaining the state’s current developmental trajectory while maintaining strict alignment with the broader macroeconomic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The response from the host power brokers reflects a deliberate closing of ranks. Receiving the delegation, Senator Abiru framed the deputy governor’s consultative approach as a reflection of the APC’s foundational ideals of discipline and collective decision-making. Offering an unequivocal endorsement, Abiru stated, “I am confident in your capacity to govern Lagos, and I will give my full support.”
The subsequent engagement with Wale Edun further elevated the profile of the campaign. Edun, a foundational architect of the Lagos economic blueprint during the Tinubu gubernatorial administration, validated the democratic nature of Hamzat’s grassroots approach, describing it as essential for democratic systems.
“If there is ever a man prepared for the job, it is Hamzat. I endorse him,” Edun declared. Pivotally, the former Finance Minister utilised the platform to advise the gubernatorial hopeful to prioritise economic policies aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable growth, tying local governance back to the ongoing national economic reforms.
For observers of Lagos politics, these endorsements are not merely ceremonial; they are the traditional precursors to securing the APC ticket. Hamzat, an experienced technocrat who previously served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, has long been a central figure in the state’s governance structure. As party chieftain Julius Solomon noted during the engagements, the deputy governor’s deep administrative experience and long-standing party loyalty are being heavily leveraged as his primary qualifications for the top job.
By systematically locking in the support of essential power blocs, from the GAC secretariat to legislative leaders and federal cabinet veterans, Hamzat is moving decisively to clear the field. While the official whistle for the gubernatorial race is yet to be fully blown, the deliberate choreography of these early endorsements suggests that the Lagos APC establishment has already begun to crystallise its succession strategy.
On his entourage were the scribe of the highest advisory body for the state, Alhaji Mutiu Are; Distinguished Senators Musiliu Obanikoro and Ganiyu Solomon; Hon. James Faleke, husband of the Ogun State Deputy Governor and party chieftain at Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Alh Bode Oyedele, immediate past Chairman of Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon Rasaq Olusola Ajala; the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works, Engr Adekunle Olayinka and his counterpart on Religious Matters, Dr. Jebe Abdullah, among others.
