By SCM Correspondent
THE governor of Lagos has officially fired the starting gun for the race to lead Africa’s biggest megacity by hand-picking his second-in-command as his successor.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the current Governor of Lagos State, has thrown his full weight behind his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, to take over the top job when his term ends.
The high-stakes endorsement, which has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian political landscape, cements Dr. Hamzat as the “anointed” candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
A Partnership Forged in Steel
Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat have long been viewed as one of Nigeria’s most stable political duos. Since taking office in 2019, they have navigated the complexities of governing a state with a population larger than many European countries.
Insiders say the Governor’s decision is a move to ensure “continuity,” aiming to keep his ambitious multi-billion pound infrastructure projects—including the Lagos Rail Mass Transit and the massive Lekki Deep Sea Port—on track.
Dr. Hamzat is no political novice. An academic and a technocrat with a background in engineering and a PhD from Cranfield University in the UK, he is widely respected for his calm demeanor and policy-driven approach.
”This isn’t just about politics; it’s about the soul of Lagos,” one Alausa source whispered. “The Governor knows that in a city this fast, you can’t afford a handbrake turn in leadership.”
While the Governor’s blessing is a golden ticket in Lagos politics, it doesn’t mean a clear run to the State House. Dr. Hamzat is expected to face fierce competition within his own party and from a revitalized opposition hungry for a slice of the Lagos “pie.”
The Governor of Lagos State is often cited as the most powerful state-level politician in Nigeria.
Economic Giant: If Lagos were a country, its economy would be the fifth largest in Africa.
The Blueprint: The state has been under the influence of the same political lineage since 1999, famously started by current Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Precedent: Sanwo-Olu himself was a product of this endorsement system, following in the footsteps of predecessors who were carefully selected to maintain the “Lagos Masterplan.”
