The Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has endorsed Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The decision was reached during a closed-door meeting of the council held at Lagos House, Marina, signalling an early political alignment within the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Speaking after the nearly two-hour meeting, GAC leader Tajudeen Olusi said members unanimously backed Hamzat, expressing confidence in his capacity to sustain and expand the developmental trajectory established by successive administrations in the state.
Olusi said the meeting was convened specifically to deliberate on the forthcoming primaries and to examine the governorship position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It was our meeting, a special meeting where we deliberated on the forthcoming primaries of our party in preparation for the 2027 general elections, and particularly we examined the position of the governorship for 2027,” he said.
According to him, members carefully considered the provisions of the party’s constitution, which allows for both competitive primaries and consensus arrangements, before arriving at a unanimous decision.
“The constitution of our party provides for primaries, and our party has guaranteed free primaries for all members, for all aspirants, for all interested individuals,” he added.
He stressed that consensus remains a strategic platform capable of uniting stakeholders and strengthening internal cohesion.
“Consensus is a platform, a means that can bring us together, that can bring peace and unity,” Olusi said.
Following this position, he disclosed that the council formally adopted Hamzat as its consensus candidate, with members pledging their full support.
The endorsement effectively positions Hamzat as the preferred candidate of the influential APC caucus, widely regarded as the engine room of political decision-making in Lagos.
In a further show of support, the council said it would collectively purchase the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the deputy governor, valued at ₦50 million.
The development underscores early consolidation within the Lagos APC as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also speaking, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state chapter of the APC had similarly purchased the ₦100 million presidential nomination form for President Bola Tinubu, reaffirming support for his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.