The Chairman, Governance Advisory Council in Lagos State, Tajudeen Olusi, has defended the adoption of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 governorship election, insisting that its decision reflects the “collective wisdom” of party leaders and does not override the primaries.

Olusi, speaking exclusively with The PUNCH on Thursday, maintained that while there is no fixed or approved method for selecting a governorship candidate, its recommendations are subject to ratification by the wider party membership.

Speaking on the development, the GAC chairman said the council’s position was in line with long-standing political traditions, where leaders consult and reach decisions in the interest of the party.

Olusi said, “There is no approved method of arriving at a decision in respect of the selection of a candidate, but we have to borrow from the past.”

He recalled past political experiences dating back to the Action Group and the Unity Party of Nigeria, noting that consensus among leaders had always played a key role in determining candidates.

According to Olusi, the late former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, emerged through such a process, despite the presence of other aspirants.

“At that point, a decision was arrived at that the man who had been steering the leadership was the proper person to lead,” he said, adding that even those with personal ambitions accepted the collective decision,” he said.

The GAC chairman emphasised that democracy involves not only open participation but also the “collective wisdom” of those involved in the process.

“There is democracy, and there is also the collective wisdom of those practising democracy,” he said, noting that dissenting views are part of the system.

He cited another instance during the era of the Social Democratic Party, where party leaders met to choose a candidate among several aspirants, leading to disagreements and the formation of breakaway groups.

“It is part of democracy that some people should sit down and look at issues in-depth to be able to guide and direct governance,” he added.

Hamzat had on Wednesday secured the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu following the visit of Olusi and some other members of GAC to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Wednesday’s visit followed a wave of endorsements for Hamzat by the GAC and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu since Monday.

However, one of the aspirants, Samuel Ajose, has kicked against the process that led to Hamzat as the consensus candidate.

Addressing concerns over its endorsement of Hamzat, Olusi said no final decision had been taken, stressing that the deputy governor, like other aspirants, must still go through the party’s primary election.

“Whatever we do is still subject to the primaries. Hamzat has only obtained a form to be signed by members of the party. He has not been elected,” he said.

He added that the council’s recommendation would ultimately be subjected to the decision of the entire party membership.

“Our decision is still subject to the consideration of the entire membership of the party,” Olusi stated.

On why Hamzat appeared to have an edge over other aspirants, the GAC chairman dismissed suggestions of favouritism, saying the process allows stakeholders to assess candidates before arriving at a decision.

“Democracy does not pin the process down to any particular individual. People can examine and make a decision,” he said, likening it to a job recruitment process where candidates are evaluated before a final choice is made.

Olusi also urged aggrieved aspirants to respect the position of party leaders, while acknowledging their right to contest.

Reacting to complaints that the GAC did not invite all aspirants before announcing its position, he pointed to examples of party members who had accepted the council’s stance.

He noted that Senator Tokunbo Abiru, who had been projected as an aspirant, and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, had both aligned with the decision.

He added that a former governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, had also issued a statement endorsing the position of the party leaders.

“So, other aspirants who have not accepted the decision, I recommend that they follow their colleagues. But if they want to exercise their rights, they are entitled to it,” Olusi said. (The PUNCH)