Lagos guber: Coalition asks Obafemi Hamzat to choose Boladale Dapo-Thomas as running mate

A coalition of Lagos indigenes’ advocacy groups has asked Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of the state, to consider nominating Boladale Dapo-Thomas, the chairperson of the state’s civil service commission, as his running mate for the 2027 elections.

Hamzat recently received the backing of President Bola Tinubu, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor, and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex leadership body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, as the consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The Lagos groups, during an event, urged Hamzat and the APC to choose Dapo-Thomas as the deputy governorship candidate.

The coalition said Dapo-Thomas fits the profile of a deputy governor owing to her decades-long career in the Lagos state civil service.

The groups said Dapo-Thomas possesses strong knowledge of governance systems and public sector reform after serving in different capacities in the civil service.

They said the choice of Dapo-Thomas would not only strengthen governance but also signal a commitment to gender inclusion at the highest levels of decision-making.

“Colleagues and analysts note that her progression through the civil service was marked by consistency rather than controversy — an attribute supporters say is increasingly valuable in today’s political climate,” the coalition said.

“Her tenure in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, for instance, coincided with efforts to modernise urban development processes in Lagos, while her role in Wealth Creation and Employment aligned with broader state initiatives on employment and economic inclusion.”

In May 2025, Sanwo-Olu appointed Dapo-Thomas as the chairperson of the Lagos Civil Service Commission.

Dapo-Thomas is a retired permanent secretary and an indigene of Lagos Island.(TheCable)