LAGOS, Nigeria: The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has officially started early political consultations regarding the 2027 governorship election. He recently met with the Governance Advisory Council [GAC], an elite group of political elders within the ruling party, to discuss his future ambitions and the direction of the state.
Okay News reports that this move signals the beginning of the succession process in Lagos State, a major economic and commercial hub in southwestern Nigeria. The political landscape in the state is heavily guided by the All Progressives Congress [APC], which uses a structured internal consultation system to select candidates long before official primary elections take place.
On Monday, April 13, 2026, Hamzat shared on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had met with the council. He stated that the meeting involved “thoughtful conversations about the future of Lagos and the kind of leadership it requires.”
He further explained his approach by stating, “I value the experience and guidance shared. This is about listening, learning and working with others to build a stronger Lagos.”
The Governance Advisory Council [GAC] is widely considered the most powerful political body within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress [APC]. The council is currently chaired by Tajudeen Olusi and features approximately 30 veteran politicians, including the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. This group holds massive influence over leadership selections, regional zoning arrangements, and strategic political endorsements.
Because of the council’s strong track record of shaping election outcomes, Hamzat’s engagement with them is viewed as a standard but critical first step for anyone seeking the highest office in the state. Candidates typically begin these structured conversations several years before the election cycle officially opens to build necessary consensus.
Following the meeting, online commentators quickly began interpreting the consultation as a formal endorsement. Various unverified reports suggested that an internal agreement might already be in place. One prominent commentary account focused on Lagos State politics described highly emotional reactions at the gathering.
The online account wrote, “Lagos East senatorial leader and APC GAC member, Otunba Alebiosu (popularly known as Otunba Bush), was moved to tears of joy as Dr Obafemi Hamzat finally secured the GAC nod as the APC flagbearer for the 2027 Lagos governorship election.”
This recent development follows an earlier endorsement of Hamzat by the Justice Forum, a well-known political group operating within Lagos State. Previous media reports from late March 2026 also indicated that the Deputy Governor was being heavily considered as the consensus candidate for the ruling party in the upcoming election. As the 2027 election cycle approaches, these early endorsements and high-level meetings will continue to shape the political future of the region.
