Tajudeen Olusi, the chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has sparked new political discussions ahead of Lagos State’s 2027 governorship election by making comments that could point to a potential successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The announcement coincides with mounting rumors that Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, may be the All Progressives Congress’s consensus candidate ahead of the party’s planned primary.
President Bola Tinubu’s close ally Olusi made the statements on Wednesday during the General Assembly of Indigenous Associations in Lagos State, which was held at the MUSON Center in Onikan by the IBILE Eko Summit Foundation.
Olusi frequently referred to Hamzat as the “incoming Governor of Lagos” while speaking to attendees at the event with the theme “Addressing Urbanization and Urban Challenges of Lagos State.” This statement immediately caught the attention of political stakeholders and onlookers.
Since then, the remark—which was made in a public meeting attended by influential members of Lagos’ political and traditional establishment—has been seen as a potential indication of elite preference in the state’s succession dynamics.
Former governor Babatunde Fashola was also present at the event and sat next to Hamzat during the proceedings, which increased rumors about the event’s political undertone.
With the GAC chairman referring to Hamzat as “our incoming Governor of Lagos” at one point, observers observed that Olusi’s frequent allusions to him implied continuity within the state’s leadership structure.
Given their ramifications for the 2027 contest, delegates reportedly reacted noticeably to the remarks.
Olusi also stressed Hamzat’s indigenous heritage, calling him a “son of the soil” and “a cousin from Egbe.” He said that these remarks underlined Hamzat’s strong ties to Lagos’ political and cultural landscape.
The IBILE Eko Summit, which unites political leaders, traditional rulers, and important Lagos-born stakeholders, is recognized as a significant platform in the state’s political system and frequently acts as a venue for the subtle shaping of consensus and direction regarding governance and succession.
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