- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos governorship ticket for the 2027 General Elections with a landslide victory at the party’s primary election.
NPO Reported that the APC had on Thursday held its gubernatorial primaries states across the country.
Despite having been widely endorsed by APC leaders and stakeholders in the state, Hamzat’s candidacy however needed to be confirmed through Direct Primaries where he faced the only aspirant left contesting against him, Olarenwaju Jim-Kamal.
Announcing the results at the collation centre located at the APC Secretariat in Ikeja, the Returning Officer, retired General Jonathan Temlong, said Hamzat polled 657,917 votes to defeat his rival, Jim-Kamal, who secured one vote.
According to Temlong, a total of 657,974 voters were accredited for the exercise which conducted across the state’s 245 wards in the 20 local government areas.
The Returning Officer described the exercise as a family affair.
He added that the election was transparent and conducted in line with the guidelines of the party.
Temlong also appreciated officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for monitoring the exercise.
Meanwhile, in a breakdown of the votes recorded across the local government areas, the returning officer said Hamzat polled 16,257 votes in Agege; 31,079 in Ajeromi-Ifelodun; 74,501 in Alimosho; 20,818 in Amuwo-Odofin; and 5,430 in Apapa.
He said the deputy governor also secured 24,631 votes in Badagry; 37,680 in Epe; 28,754 in Eti-Osa; 33,861 in Ibeju-Lekki; 38,627 in Ifako-Ijaiye; 21,588 in Ikeja; 55,148 in Ikorodu; 51,600 in Kosofe; 27,348 in Lagos Island; 49,079 in Lagos Mainland; and 38,971 in Mushin.
Hamzat further recorded 36,372 votes in Ojo; 31,972 in Oshodi-Isolo; 16,706 in Somolu; and 17,495 in Surulere.
Following the announcement of each local government results, Temlong announced Hamzat as the winner of the governorship primary election and the APC candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.
According to reports, Hamzat, in his acceptance speech, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, APC leaders, and party members for the confidence reposed in him to fly the party’s flag in the next governorship election.
He pledged to sustain the developmental strides of the APC administration in Lagos State and promised inclusive governance if elected governor in 2027.