Former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has publicly endorsed Deputy Governor Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 governorship election, describing him as a committed party man aligned with the ideals of unity and progress.
In a press release issued on Thursday, Ambode congratulated Hamzat on his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of the APC. He joined fellow party members in hailing the decision, which follows recent deliberations by the party hierarchy and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
“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,” Ambode stated in the release. “Your adoption as our Party’s consensus candidate is a reflection of your loyalty, hard work and dedication to the party for over two decades.”
The former governor, who served from 2015 to 2019, reiterated his strong support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as a leader whose vision would deliver prosperity. “As I congratulate Dr. Hamzat on his adoption, I restate my unshakeable commitment to support the re-election of our Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” he wrote. “I strongly believe that the greater prosperity of Lagos and indeed Nigeria is firmly tied to the continued governance of Mr. President.”
Ambode expressed confidence in Hamzat’s ability to build on existing gains, noting the deputy governor’s wealth of experience and skills in governance. He affirmed that the party was ready to mobilize at state and federal levels to deliver victories for the APC, including securing at least 3 million votes for President Tinubu in the Southwest.
The endorsement comes amid heightened political activities within the Lagos APC as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections. Recent reports indicate that the GAC and key party leaders, with backing from President Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have coalesced around Hamzat as the preferred successor to Sanwo-Olu. This move appears to sideline earlier speculation about a possible comeback bid by Ambode himself.
In the statement, Ambode emphasized collective readiness: “We are ready to roll up our sleeves and work to deliver landslide victories for our Party at both the State and Federal levels as the process unfolds.”He concluded with optimism for the future of Lagos and Nigeria: “By the grace of Almighty God, the best days of Lagos and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”
