Hamzat Clinches Lagos APC Governorship Ticket with 657,917 Votes

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the 2027 general elections after winning the party’s primary in Lagos.

At the APC Secretariat in Ikeja, Returning Officer, retired General Jonathan Temlong, announced that Hamzat secured a total of 657,917 votes, far outpacing his opponent, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, who received just one vote. In total, 657,974 voters were accredited for the primary, which Temlong described as peaceful and transparent, conducted in line with party guidelines across all 245 wards in the state’s 20 local government areas.

Temlong also expressed appreciation to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their oversight and support during the exercise.

Providing a breakdown of votes, Hamzat’s support was widespread: he polled 16,257 votes in Agege; 31,079 in Ajeromi-Ifelodun; 74,501 in Alimosho; 20,818 in Amuwo-Odofin; 5,430 in Apapa; 24,631 in Badagry; 37,680 in Epe; 28,754 in Eti-Osa; 33,861 in Ibeju-Lekki; 38,627 in Ifako-Ijaiye; 21,588 in Ikeja; 55,148 in Ikorodu; 51,600 in Kosofe; 27,348 in Lagos Island; 49,079 in Lagos Mainland; 38,971 in Mushin; 36,372 in Ojo; 31,972 in Oshodi-Isolo; 16,706 in Somolu; and 17,495 in Surulere.

Following the official declaration, Temlong affirmed Hamzat as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 polls.

Earlier, Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, praised both the national electoral and local organising committees for conducting a credible and orderly primary, and commended party members for their discipline and commitment to democracy. He noted that the successful primary demonstrated the party’s unity and strength ahead of the 2027 elections. Ojelabi also revealed that the APC’s presidential primary would follow, using the same direct primary system across all wards.

In his acceptance speech, Hamzat expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, APC leaders, and party members for their trust, promising to continue the developmental progress in Lagos and to ensure inclusive governance if elected in 2027.

Initially, four aspirants had purchased APC nomination forms for the governorship race. However, two contenders—Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) and Samuel Ajose—withdrew, paving the way for Hamzat’s endorsement by the party leadership. Adediran stepped down following endorsements from President Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council, while Ajose withdrew days before the primary.