Ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, Tajudeen Olusi, has ignited fresh political conversations after making remarks seen as indicative of a possible successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The development comes amid growing speculation surrounding the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as a potential consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party’s anticipated primary process.
Olusi, a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, made the remarks on Wednesday during the General Assembly of Indigenous Associations in Lagos State, organised by the IBILE Eko Summit Foundation at the MUSON Centre in Onikan.
While addressing participants at the event themed “Addressing Urbanisation and Urban Challenges of Lagos State,” Olusi repeatedly referred to Hamzat as the “incoming Governor of Lagos,” a statement that drew immediate attention from political stakeholders and observers present.
The comment, delivered in a public forum attended by key figures within Lagos’ political and traditional structure, has since been interpreted as a possible signal of elite preference in the state’s succession dynamics.
Also present at the gathering was former governor Babatunde Fashola, who was seated beside Hamzat during the proceedings, further fuelling speculation over the political undertone of the event.
Observers noted that Olusi’s repeated references to Hamzat suggested continuity within the state’s leadership structure, with the GAC chairman at one point explicitly describing him as “our incoming Governor of Lagos.”
The remarks reportedly drew noticeable reactions from delegates, given their implications for the 2027 race.
Olusi also highlighted Hamzat’s indigenous roots, describing him as a “son of the soil” and referring to him as “a cousin from Egbe,” a comment he said emphasized Hamzat’s deep ties to Lagos’ traditional and political landscape.
The IBILE Eko Summit, which brings together political leaders, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders of Lagos origin, is widely regarded as an influential platform within the state’s political framework, often serving as a space where consensus and direction on governance and succession are subtly shaped.
