Obafemi Hamzat clinches Lagos APC governorship ticket in massive L
landslide victory

The political atmosphere in Lagos State took a decisive turn on Thursday as the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, emerged as the official governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the upcoming state election. His victory came through a highly organized primary election that ended in an overwhelming show of support, effectively confirming him as the party’s preferred choice to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in what is expected to be a carefully managed political transition.

The announcement was made at the APC State Secretariat on Acme Road in Ogba, where party officials formally declared Hamzat the winner after the completion of vote collation. The scale of his victory immediately drew attention not only within Lagos political circles but also across the national landscape, given the extraordinary margin recorded and the level of coordination that shaped the outcome.

Hamzat secured a total of 657,917 votes out of 657,974 accredited delegates, a result that reflected near-total backing from party members across the state. His only opponent in the race, Lanre Jim-Kamal, received just one vote, a figure that further emphasized the one-sided nature of the contest and the overwhelming consolidation of support behind the deputy governor. The remaining ballots were either invalid or not recorded in the final count.

Party officials described the primary as peaceful, orderly, and highly organized across all local government areas in the state. According to the Chairman of the Lagos APC Governorship Electoral Committee, Gen. Jon Temlong, the process met all required standards of transparency and discipline, and the results reflected the clear will of participating party members. His announcement was followed by loud celebrations from supporters gathered at the venue, many of whom described the outcome as a confirmation of unity within the party.

The outcome of the primary did not come as a surprise to many political observers, as internal alignments within the APC had already begun to shape the direction of the race weeks before voting day. Several key figures who initially showed interest in the governorship ticket eventually stepped down in what was widely interpreted as a strategic effort to strengthen party cohesion and avoid internal divisions ahead of the general election.

Among those who withdrew was Samuel Mawuyon Àjọṣe, popularly known as SMA Gold, who publicly stepped aside and encouraged his supporters to rally behind Hamzat’s candidacy. His decision was followed by Babajide Adeniran, widely known as Jandor, who also exited the race and aligned himself with the deputy governor’s ambition. These withdrawals significantly narrowed the field and consolidated political support within the party structure, effectively paving the way for a consensus outcome.

Following the conclusion of the primary, Hamzat expressed appreciation to party members for what he described as a strong demonstration of confidence in his leadership capacity. He also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the state and emphasized the importance of unity as the party moves toward the next phase of the electoral process. According to him, the result reflects not just personal victory but a collective endorsement of continuity and stability in governance.

The momentum behind Hamzat’s emergence was further strengthened by high-level political endorsements that took place prior to the primary. In late April 2026, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu publicly expressed his support for his deputy, describing him as the most suitable candidate to continue and expand the administration’s development agenda. This endorsement followed extensive consultations within the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos State.

Shortly after the governor’s declaration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also gave his backing to Hamzat as the party’s consensus candidate. This presidential endorsement significantly reinforced his position within the party hierarchy and signaled a unified direction from both state and national leadership of the APC. It also played a major role in shaping political expectations ahead of the primary.

With the backing of both state and national leaders, Hamzat’s candidacy quickly gained momentum, effectively reshaping the internal dynamics of the race. By the time delegates arrived to cast their votes, the structure of support within the party had already tilted heavily in his favor, leaving little room for meaningful competition.

A simple breakdown of the political alignment showed a clear chain of influence beginning from the presidency, flowing through the state leadership, and extending to key party stakeholders across Lagos. This alignment played a decisive role in reducing opposition and consolidating support behind a single candidate, creating what many described as a near-unified front.

Hamzat’s emergence is being described by political analysts as one of the most decisive governorship primary outcomes in Lagos State since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999. The scale of his victory, combined with the level of internal consensus, has set a strong foundation for the APC as it prepares for the general election cycle.

His background in engineering, governance, and public administration has also been highlighted as one of the key factors behind his selection. Over the years, he has served as a central figure in the current administration’s development agenda, contributing significantly to policy formulation, infrastructure planning, and digital governance initiatives under the THEMES framework.

Many within the party believe that his experience as deputy governor has adequately prepared him for a smooth transition into the top office. His supporters argue that continuity in leadership will help sustain ongoing projects, strengthen institutional reforms, and maintain stability across key sectors in Lagos State, including transportation, housing, education, and technology.

The results of the primary were officially summarized as follows. Hamzat secured 657,917 votes, while his opponent, Lanre Jim-Kamal, recorded just one vote. A total of 657,974 party members were accredited to participate in the exercise. The process was supervised by the Lagos APC Governorship Electoral Committee and conducted at the party secretariat in Ogba under strict organizational guidelines.

As the APC moves forward from the primary, attention is now shifting to the general election campaign. With a unified party structure, strong institutional backing, and endorsements from influential political figures, Hamzat is expected to lead a well-coordinated campaign effort across Lagos State in the coming months.

For now, his emergence marks a significant moment in Lagos politics, reflecting both the strength of internal party consensus and the strategic alignment of key political actors. It also sets the stage for what is expected to be a closely watched election season in one of Nigeria’s most politically important and economically influential states.

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