Lagos APC Confirms May 21 Governorship Primaries Amid Tinubu’s Endorsement of Hamzat

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that its governorship primaries will hold on May 21, 2026, despite growing political momentum around an emerging consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to developments reported by Global Mirror news gathered, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday April 29 reportedly endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as the party’s preferred Governorship flagbearer after a high-level engagement with the APC Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Hamzat was presented to the President by the GAC delegation led by its chairman, Tajudeen Olusi. The deputy governor disclosed that the President gave his blessing to both his aspiration and the Council’s consensus-backed decision.

He described the meeting as significant, noting that the endorsement reflected confidence in his experience within Lagos governance.

“Nobody is ever fully ready because the assignment is audacious. But what you have is experience. I understand the system; I know how things work,” Hamzat said, adding that he remains confident of success with party backing.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earlier publicly expressed support for Hamzat’s succession bid, while the 34-member GAC reportedly reached a consensus on his candidacy and even pledged to purchase his N50 million nomination form as a show of solidarity.

Despite the internal alignment, APC leaders maintained that due process would be followed. The party confirmed that Governorship primaries remain scheduled for May 21, 2026, while the deadline for submission of nomination forms is May 4.

Speaking after the Villa meeting, GAC chairman Tajudeen Olusi dismissed concerns over dissenting aspirants, stressing that consultation and consensus-building remain central to the party’s internal democracy.

“In politics, people are free to express opinions. But we have a system of consultation and collective decision-making,” he said.

The delegation to the Presidential Villa included Governor Sanwo-Olu and other senior Lagos APC stakeholders, signalling what observers describe as a strong internal consolidation ahead of the party’s primary election.