As the 2027 general elections draw near, Lagos State's Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, is emerging as the most likely candidate to fly the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag in the state. The APC stakeholders' meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Sunday night has set the stage for this development. The meeting, which also featured Vice President Kashim Shettima and 23 governors, has sparked a flurry of activity in the APC as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has already released its timetable for the elections, with the Presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections set for February 6, 2027. Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between April and May 2026, with candidates emerging by the end of May. The Electoral Act 2026 (amended) allows for candidates to be selected either through a consensus arrangement or direct primaries.
With the APC stakeholders' meeting paving the way for a consensus candidate, Obafemi Hamzat is now in the spotlight. His potential candidacy has significant implications for the 2027 elections, and party loyalists are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this development.
Obafemi Hamzat's emergence as the APC consensus candidate is a significant development in Nigerian politics, particularly in the South-West region. As a seasoned politician and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Hamzat's candidacy is likely to resonate with voters in the state and beyond. His selection is also a testament to the APC's efforts to strengthen its internal structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
