Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has declared that Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat will be the next governor of Lagos State. Obasa made the announcement on Thursday, April 23, while hosting Hamzat at his residence in the Agege area of Lagos. The speaker stated that he had just returned from Abuja, where discussions with President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Hamzat as the preferred candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Obasa's Endorsement of Hamzat
Obasa, who had been rumored to be nursing his own governorship ambitions, said: “I just returned from Abuja, and the conversation remains the same: Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is the next Governor of Lagos State.” Hamzat has been part of the Lagos state government since the administration of President Bola Tinubu as governor in 1999. He currently serves as deputy governor under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Public Reactions to the Declaration
The announcement has sparked varied reactions from Nigerians on social media. Some users commented on the political dynamics within the APC. Olaifa Olaleye Leo remarked on Obasa's secure position as speaker, while Dekunle criticized the electoral process, suggesting that election funds should be redirected. Olugbenga Imohtep dismissed rumors that Tinubu was planning to install his son Seyi as governor, and Khen urged other aspirants to take note. Laycoń Tate confirmed that Obasa is not contesting, solidifying Hamzat's position as the APC candidate.
In a related incident, the chairman of Bariga Local Government, Kolade Alabi, slumped while addressing APC members at the party secretariat in Ikeja on Wednesday, May 7. He was revived and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
