Obafemi Hamzat: Why Is Everyone Suddenly Watching Lagos’ 2027 Race?

Label: Nigeria

Something significant is happening in Lagos politics.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, Obafemi Hamzat, the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, is increasingly becoming one of the most closely watched political figures in the state.

Hamzat is not a newcomer to Lagos politics. He has served as deputy governor since 2019, working alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. But the political spotlight on him has become much brighter since he emerged as the APC's candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Why Hamzat?

The APC's choice of Hamzat represents an attempt to maintain continuity in Lagos after Sanwo-Olu's tenure.

Governor Sanwo-Olu publicly presented Hamzat and his running mate, Sonayon-James, as the party's ticket for the next election, describing them as capable of continuing Lagos' development agenda.

President Bola Tinubu has also backed Hamzat's candidacy, giving the deputy governor significant support within the ruling political structure.

The Lagos APC Governor's Advisory Council had earlier adopted Hamzat as its consensus candidate, further strengthening his position within the party.

The support is spreading

One of the most interesting developments is the growing grassroots mobilisation around Hamzat.

The Lagos State Baales Forum has unveiled a mobilisation blueprint supporting Hamzat and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

Workers' groups have also begun organising support structures for Tinubu and Hamzat.

The Working People United group, made up of workers from different trade unions in Lagos, recently inaugurated a support structure for the two politicians.

Former Lagos4Lagos leader Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has also pledged the support of his political structure to APC candidates ahead of 2027.

These developments suggest that Hamzat's campaign is moving beyond the formal APC structure and into wider grassroots mobilisation.

But the opposition is watching

Hamzat's growing political strength has also made him a target for opposition criticism.

The Lagos PDP has attacked his 2027 agenda, arguing that the document reflects what the opposition describes as failures of the APC administration in Lagos.

African Democratic Congress candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has also criticised Hamzat over issues including Lagos' waste-management challenges.

That means Hamzat's biggest challenge may not simply be winning the APC ticket or securing support within the ruling political establishment.

He will ultimately have to convince Lagos voters that he represents the best direction for the state.

What is Hamzat promising?

Hamzat has presented an agenda focused on organising Lagos and continuing development across areas including infrastructure, security and governance.

He has also promised Lagosians a government based on what he describes as purpose, service and integrity.

The question now is whether those promises will translate into a message that connects strongly with ordinary Lagos residents.

Lagos is a complicated political environment.

It is Nigeria's economic powerhouse, home to millions of residents and one of Africa's largest urban centres. Its next governor will face enormous challenges involving transportation, housing, waste management, flooding, infrastructure, security and the cost of living.

The real test for Hamzat

For now, Hamzat appears to have a powerful political advantage: the backing of the APC establishment and growing grassroots mobilisation.

But elections are ultimately decided by voters.

The 2027 Lagos governorship contest is therefore likely to become much more competitive as opposition parties and candidates intensify their campaigns.

Hamzat's challenge will be to move from being the preferred candidate of a powerful political structure to becoming the candidate that ordinary Lagosians believe can lead the state.

And that is why Obafemi Hamzat is becoming one of the names Nigerians will be hearing much more often as Lagos moves toward 2027.

Afroview TV Take

The interesting question is no longer simply “Who is Obafemi Hamzat?”

It is:

“Can Hamzat turn strong political backing into enough support from ordinary Lagos voters to win the governorship in 2027?”

That is the question Lagos politics will increasingly be trying to answer.