‘Our Incoming Governor’: GAC Chairman Olusi signals support for Hamzat in 2027

Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has fueled succession speculation ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship race by repeatedly referring to Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the “incoming Governor” during a public assembly.

The political landscape in Lagos State witnessed a significant shift on Wednesday following public remarks by Tajudeen Olusi, the Chairman of the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC). Speaking at the General Assembly of Indigenous Associations at the MUSON Centre, Olusi repeatedly addressed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the “incoming Governor of Lagos.” The event, themed “Addressing Urbanisation and Urban Challenges of Lagos State,” was attended by high-ranking political and traditional figures, including former Governor Babatunde Fashola, lending additional weight to what many observers view as a formal signal of the state’s elite succession preference.

Olusi’s comments have intensified existing speculation that Hamzat may emerge as the consensus candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term concludes. Beyond the “incoming” label, the GAC chairman took care to emphasize Hamzat’s indigenous credentials, a move seen as a strategic effort to solidify his standing among the state’s traditional power blocs. By describing the Deputy Governor as a “son of the soil” and highlighting his ancestral links, Olusi appeared to be addressing the often-sensitive “indigene” debate that characterizes Lagos gubernatorial politics.

The repeated references to the Deputy Governor’s future role drew noticeable reactions from the gathered delegates and political stakeholders. Olusi was explicit in his phrasing, at one point describing Hamzat as “our incoming Governor of Lagos.” Further underscoring the Deputy Governor’s personal and political ties to the region, Olusi noted his familial heritage, referring to him as “a cousin from Egbe.” These statements, delivered by a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, are widely interpreted as a move toward maintaining continuity within the established leadership structure of the state.

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