James Faleke, the representative for Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, announced his backing for Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat to become Lagos State governor in the 2027‑2035 term. Faleke posted the endorsement on his verified X account on Friday, urging party faithful across Lagos to rally behind Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for its primaries slated for May. He wrote, "Good evening all. As we prepare for Party primaries next month, I urge all our supporters in Ikeja Federal Constituency and Lagos State to support Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the next Governor of Lagos State from 2027–2035 IJN. Amen!"
Within the APC, leaders appear to be moving toward a consensus that could position Hamzat as the party's flagbearer for Lagos. Similar alignments are emerging in neighboring states, with insiders favoring Senator Olamilekan Adeola (known as Yayi) for Ogun and Senator Sharafadeen Alli for Oyo.
The preferences reportedly stem from discussions held at a meeting of APC stakeholders from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on 23 March. A follow‑up session involving the President and key South‑West figures was later convened to refine strategies ahead of the general elections.
Attendees at the Lagos gathering included President Tinubu's Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Governors Babajide Sanwo‑Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), as well as Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Zaccheaus Adedeji and other senior APC members.
Faleke's public endorsement signals that the APC's Lagos leadership is coalescing around a single gubernatorial candidate well before the official primary, giving Dr. Obafemi Hamzat a distinct advantage over any late‑emerging rivals.
The move reflects a broader strategy within the party to lock in candidates across the South‑West, as evidenced by parallel preferences for Senator Yayi in Ogun and Senator Alli in Oyo. Such coordination, discussed in meetings with President Tinubu and senior officials on 23 March, suggests the APC is seeking a unified front to maximise its electoral strength in the 2027 cycle.
For Lagos voters, an early consensus could limit intra‑party competition, potentially reducing the vibrancy of internal debates that often surface during primaries. Supporters of alternative aspirants may find their influence curtailed, while Hamzat's supporters stand to benefit from a smoother path to the ballot.
If this pattern of pre‑emptive candidate selection spreads to other regions, it may reshape Nigeria's electoral landscape, concentrating power within party elites and diminishing grassroots input in candidate selection.
