Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has begun early-stage political consultations with the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), signalling the start of positioning ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship cycle.

Hamzat disclosed on his X (formerly Twitter) page that he met with the caucus on Monday and held “thoughtful conversations about the future of Lagos and the kind of leadership it requires.”

He added, “I value the experience and guidance shared. This is about listening, learning and working with others to build a stronger Lagos.”

The development places renewed attention on succession dynamics within Lagos politics, where the ruling All Progressives Congress maintains a tightly structured internal consultation system that heavily influences candidate selection long before formal primaries are held.

The GAC is widely regarded as the most influential decision-shaping body within the Lagos APC.

Currently led by Tajudeen Olusi, the council consists of about 30 veteran politicians and key stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and wields significant de facto influence over the state’s leadership and political structure.

The council operates as a senior political caucus composed of party elders, prominent figures and long-standing stakeholders. Its influence extends across major decisions, including succession planning, zoning considerations and strategic endorsements within the state’s political hierarchy.

Hamzat’s engagement with the council is widely interpreted as part of early consultations typical of Lagos succession politics, where aspirants often begin structured dialogue years before the election cycle formally commences.

Online political commentary has already begun amplifying interpretations of the meeting as a decisive endorsement, with some unverified narratives suggesting that internal consensus may already be forming.

A Lagos-based commentary account also described emotional scenes at the meeting, claiming that Lagos East senatorial leader and APC GAC member, Otunba Alebiosu, popularly known as Bush, was moved to tears of joy after Hamzat reportedly received the council’s backing as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

“Lagos East senatorial leader and APC GAC member, Otunba Alebiosu (popularly known as Otunba Bush), was moved to tears of joy as Dr Obafemi Hamzat finally secured the GAC nod as the APC flagbearer for the 2027 Lagos governorship election,” the account wrote.

Members of the Justice Forum, a political group in Lagos, had earlier endorsed Hamzat for the seat. (The PUNCH)

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