Anti-Hamzat Plot Thickens As Lagos Waits For Tinubu

A fierce behind-the-scenes struggle is unfolding over the 2027 governorship succession in Lagos State, with fresh indications that resistance is mounting against the perceived emergence of Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as the next governor with Senator Tokunbo Abiru arising as a new option.

Despite earlier narratives projecting Hamzat as a consensus choice within the ruling structure, multiple sources now say the race is far from settled, with powerful interests mobilising to block his path.

At the centre of the intrigue is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose silence on the matter is being interpreted in some quarters as a sign that he has yet to be fully persuaded on Hamzat’s candidacy. “Don’t believe all the reports you are hearing. Has Asiwaju publicly endorsed him?” one insider queried, suggesting that the final word remains with the president.

Hamzat’s push is said to be strongly backed by the old guard within the Justice Forum, the influential political bloc founded by his late father, which has deep representation in the Governance Advisory Council (GAC). Within that circle, former minister Musiliu Obanikoro is reportedly spearheading efforts to rally support for the deputy governor.

Sources say the campaign initially gained traction within the GAC, with attempts to present the endorsement as a fait accompli to the presidency. However, that move is now facing pushback from rival camps wary of Hamzat’s long-standing political roots and perceived independent power base.

Critics within the establishment are said to be raising concerns over Hamzat’s past alliances, particularly his closeness to former governor Babatunde Fashola during earlier political contests in the state. That history, insiders say, has revived suspicions among key stakeholders about where his ultimate loyalties may lie.

Even more significantly, there are fears in some quarters that Hamzat’s deep political lineage and over two decades within the Lagos power structure—dating back to 2005—could pose a long-term challenge to the dominance of the Tinubu political machinery.

“One truth is that Asiwaju may be reluctant to back someone with such entrenched roots in Lagos and Ogun who can build a parallel structure strong enough to rival him in the future,” a source disclosed. “Hamzat has a base he can fall back on.”

Amid the growing resistance, attention is reportedly shifting towards alternative options, with Senator Abiru, a technocrat with minimal political baggage becoming the major challenge to Hamzat.

A former bank managing director, Abiru who GWG.ng gathered was considered for the position of minister of finance is increasingly being speculated as Asiwaju’s shock card for the Lagos APC governorship ticket.

As the succession battle intensifies, one thing is clear: the fight for the soul of Lagos is far from over, and the eventual choice may hinge on calculations that go beyond loyalty, competence, and consensus, touching instead on control, legacy, and the future of the state’s political architecture. (GWG)