- Safiu Kehinde
Popular Lagos state lawmaker, James Faleke, has thrown his weight behind the state’s Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, for his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate for 2027 election.
Faleke declared his support for Hamzat’s candidacy in a post shared on his X handle on Friday.
The lawmaker, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, urged his constituents to rally behind the deputy governor for the primaries slated to hold next month.
“Good evening all. As we prepare for Party primaries next month, I urge all our supporters in ikeja Federal Constituency and Lagos state to support Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the next Governor of Lagos state from 2027-2035 IJN. Amen!” Faleke wrote.
The quest for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s successor has over the past months filled with the speculations and dramas.
While some had tipped Hamzat for the APC governorship ticket to succeed his principal, the Deputy Governor is also bound to face still competition from other top contenders for the position.
Also eyeing the post is Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa who had repeatedly expressed his intention to succeed Sanwo-Olu with many APC supporters also rallying behind him.
Renowned for his past feuds with the current governor, Obasa had last year became focal point of discourse in Lagos politics with his brief impeachment by his colleagues.
The development which resorted to legal battles with his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, and other lawmakers, would later be resolved by the Lagos’ Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
It however pushed Obasa upfront in the governorship race.
Meanwhile, also tipped for the governorship seat is Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
Speculations of Seyi’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate which brewed stronger last year had however sparked mixed reaction with some considering it a plot to extend the Tinubu dynasty and alleged control of Lagos by the President’s family.