The question of whether Obafemi Hamzat can become the first deputy governor in Lagos State to rise to the office of governor is gaining attention as political activities ahead of 2027 begin to take shape.
Hamzat’s prospects received a boost recently when James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, publicly backed him for the governorship, with the Justice Forum also seen to be rallying behind him within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
On Monday, Hamzat shared details of his consultation with members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a key decision-making body in Lagos APC politics.
“Today, I began consultations with respected members of the Governance Advisory Council. We had honest, thoughtful conversations about the future of Lagos and the kind of leadership it requires.
I value the experience and guidance shared. This is about listening, learning and working with others to build a stronger Lagos,” he wrote.
His move is seen as part of efforts to build consensus within the party ahead of the primaries.
A history that does not favour deputies
Lagos has had several deputy governors across civilian and military eras, but none has gone on to become governor through election.
In the Second Republic, Rafiu Jafojo served under Lateef Jakande from 1979 to 1983.
During the military era, Lateefat Okunnu served under Raji Rasaki from 1990 to 1992, while Sinatu Ojikutu served under Michael Otedola from 1992 to 1993.
In the current democratic era, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele served under Bola Tinubu from 1999 to 2002 but did not succeed him.
She was replaced by Femi Pedro, who served from 2003 to 2007 under Tinubu and also did not become governor.
Abiodun Ogunleye served briefly in May 2007 at the end of Tinubu’s tenure.
Under Babatunde Fashola, Sarah Adebisi Sosan served from 2007 to 2011, followed by Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire from 2011 to 2015. Neither emerged as governor.
Oluranti Adebule served under Akinwunmi Ambode from 2015 to 2019 and did not become governor.
Hamzat has served as deputy governor since 2019 under Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
A different political moment
Hamzat’s supporters argue that his situation may be different.
He is a long-standing member of the Justice Forum, a key caucus within the Lagos APC, and is seen as one of its leading figures. His father, the late Oba Olatunji Hamzat, was central to the group’s founding.
He also stepped down from the 2019 governorship race to support Sanwo-Olu, a decision that is often cited as a sign of loyalty to party leadership.
His recent consultations with the Governor’s Advisory Council suggest he is engaging with the bloc that plays a major role in candidate selection in Lagos.
The road ahead
Despite these factors, the path remains uncertain.
A source within the APC told QEDNG that supporters of the deputy governor were confident Bola Tinubu would endorse him as Sanwo-Olu’s successor during the commissioning of some projects in Lagos last week, but the president was absent.
Lagos politics is shaped by consensus among key leaders, internal negotiations and the balance of influence among party caucuses.
While Faleke’s backing and Justice Forum support strengthen Hamzat’s position, other interests within the party are expected to shape the outcome of the primaries.
For now, Hamzat is one of the leading names in the conversation. Whether he can break the pattern and become the first deputy governor to rise to the governorship will depend on how party dynamics evolve ahead of 2027.
