Former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has thrown his weight behind the emergence of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ambode also reaffirmed his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, stressing his readiness to mobilise votes for the party at both the state and national levels.
Commending Hamzat’s emergence, Ambode described him as a loyal party stalwart whose commitment to unity and progress has been evident over the years.
“Your deliberate and purposeful consultations with the Party hierarchy and all members of the Party have demonstrated you are a true Party man committed to the Party’s ideals and values of Unity and Progress.
Your adoption as our Party’s consensus candidate is a reflection of your loyalty, hardwork and dedication to the party for over two decades.
“I am sure that our State will benefit immensely from your wealth of experience and skills in governance,” he said.
Ambode further linked the future prosperity of Lagos and Nigeria to the continued leadership of the president, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s developmental agenda.
“I strongly believe that the greater prosperity of Lagos and indeed Nigeria is firmly tied to the continued governance of Mr. President.
“I am confident that Mr. President’s vision and aspirations for our nation will yield bountiful returns and put us on the path of growth and prosperity,” he said.
He set a target of three million votes for Tinubu in Lagos, while also urging party members to ensure the return of all APC candidates contesting for legislative seats.
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“As Lagos APC, our mission should be to deliver at least 3 million votes for Mr. President and support other States in Southwest to deliver great results.
“We must return all our Party-nominated Senators and Representatives to the National Assembly,” Ambode said.
Hamzat’s adoption followed a series of endorsements within the party. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earlier endorsed him as his preferred successor earlier in the week.
Subsequently, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex decision-making body of the Lagos APC, unanimously backed Hamzat during a meeting held at Lagos House, Marina. The 34-member council, led by its chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, also approved the purchase of his N50 million nomination form.
The endorsement process extended to the national level on Wednesday, when a GAC delegation presented Hamzat to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the president was said to have endorsed the choice.
Speaking after the meeting, Hamzat acknowledged the scale of the task ahead but expressed confidence, drawing from his experience in government.
“Nobody is ready because the assignment is audacious. But what you have is experience. Having served as Deputy Governor of Lagos under Governor Sanwo-Olu, I’ve learned a lot. I know the room. I know where the kitchen is,” he said.
Olusi, for his part, maintained that the council’s decision reflected a broad consensus among stakeholders. He downplayed concerns from other aspirants, noting that the party would still conduct primaries in accordance with APC rules.
Hamzat, 59, has served as deputy governor since 2019 and previously held the position of Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during Ambode’s administration.