Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has sparked new political debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State, after making remarks seen as indicating a potential successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The development comes as talk mounts about Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat being a potential consensus candidate for the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party’s upcoming primary process.
Olusi, a major ally of President Bola Tinubu, spoke on Wednesday at the IBILE Eko Summit Foundation’s General Assembly of Indigenous Associations in Lagos State, which was held at the MUSON Centre in Onikan.
While addressing participants at the event titled “Addressing Urbanisation and Urban Challenges in Lagos State,” Olusi frequently referred to Hamzat as the “incoming Governor of Lagos,” a comment that drew instant notice from political stakeholders and observers in attendance.
The comment, made during a public meeting attended by prominent people in Lagos’ political and traditional structures, has since been regarded as a probable indication of elite preference in the state’s succession dynamics.
Former governor Babatunde Fashola was also present at the gathering, sitting behind Hamzat during the proceedings, adding to conjecture about the event’s political undertone.
Observers noticed that Olusi’s repeated references to Hamzat implied continuity within the state’s leadership system, with the GAC chairman directly referring to him as “our incoming Governor of Lagos.”
Delegates reportedly reacted strongly to the remarks, given their ramifications for the 2027 contest.
Olusi also emphasised Hamzat’s indigenous roots, referring to him as a “son of the soil” and “a cousin from Egbe,” which he said emphasised Hamzat’s profound ties to Lagos’ traditional and political scene.
The IBILE Eko Summit, which brings together political leaders, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders of Lagos origin, is widely regarded as a powerful platform within the state’s political framework, frequently serving as a space for subtly shaping consensus and direction on governance and succession.