Lagos, Nigeria — The All Progressives Congress (APC), the governing party of Nigeria, is reportedly moving toward a consensus arrangement that could see its top candidates for the 2027 governorship elections finalized through internal agreement. According to insiders, the party is strongly considering Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State, as the potential successor in the nation’s commercial capital.
The strategy also points toward the possible selection of Olamilekan Adeola, a serving senator representing the Ogun West district, for the governorship of Ogun State. Similarly, Sharafadeen Alli, the senator representing the Oyo South district, is being discussed as the likely candidate for the top seat in Oyo State.
These emerging political shifts followed a high-level meeting hosted by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, at his private residence in Lagos on Sunday, March 22, 2026. While the President had officially returned from a state visit to the United Kingdom to observe the Eid el-Fitr religious holidays, sources indicate that the gathering served as a platform for critical deliberations regarding the party’s future in the South West region.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the government body responsible for overseeing elections in Nigeria, has scheduled the next round of governorship polls for Saturday, February 6, 2027. Under the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026, political parties are permitted to select their candidates through either direct primary elections or a consensus agreement among members.
Okay News reports that while the consensus path is currently the most probable, it is not yet finalized. The meeting in Lagos included influential figures such as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the governors of Lagos, Ogun, and Ekiti states.
The transition plans remain subject to change due to internal competition. In Lagos State, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, is reportedly still seeking the nomination. In Ogun State, the preference for Senator Adeola, popularly known as “Yayi,” reportedly differs from the choice of the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun. Meanwhile, in Oyo State, Senator Alli is viewed as a unifying option for various factions.
Further deliberations regarding the compensation of other aspirants who might be affected by a final consensus are expected to continue in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, on Friday, March 27, 2026.
