Faleke throws weight behind Hamzat for 2027 Lagos Governorship

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

 James Abiodun Faleke, a ranking member of the House of Representatives and influential APC chieftain representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, has openly endorsed Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the party’s preferred candidate for governor in the 2027 election.

In a statement posted on his verified X account on Friday evening, Faleke urged supporters across Ikeja and the entire state to rally behind the current Deputy Governor, describing the endorsement as a call for continuity and stability ahead of the APC primaries scheduled for 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 endorsement is notable for its timing and scope. Faleke, a four-term federal lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, is widely regarded as a strategic voice within Lagos APC circles and a close ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political structure.

His call carries weight in the densely populated and economically vital Ikeja axis, which includes key commercial and residential areas.

Hamzat, an engineer by training, has served as Deputy Governor of Lagos State since 2019, first alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his first term and continuing into the current administration.

Hamzat, who turned 61 last year, is often credited with contributing to the state’s infrastructure, technology, and urban development initiatives under the THEMES+ agenda.

The 2027 Lagos governorship race is already generating intense interest within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Recent reports indicate that while the party has declared all positions open and adopted direct primaries as the default method (with consensus where acceptable), several high-profile names are being discussed as potential contenders.

These include former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, and others. However, Hamzat has frequently been positioned as a frontrunner due to his incumbency advantage, administrative experience, and perceived loyalty to the established Lagos APC leadership.

Faleke’s intervention comes just days after broader APC consultations and ahead of what promises to be a competitive primary season.

Lagos APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi recently reiterated that no candidate has been anointed, emphasizing internal democracy.