APC guber primaries: Sanwo-Olu hails voters as Hamzat emerges candidate

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has hailed “impressive turnout” of electorate and supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election held across the state on Thursday.

This was as Obafemi Hamzat, the incumbent deputy governor of the state, emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election. Hamzat’s election did not come as a surprise, as all organs of the ruling APC in Lagos, including the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), had earlier endorsed him as consensus candidate in the build-up to the party primaries.

Sanwo-Olu, who arrived at the Ward E3, St Stephens (WAEC) School, Lagos Island polling with his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at 1144am to participate in the APC governorship primary election, described the exercise as peaceful, orderly and reflective of internal party democracy.

He noted that the direct primary process allowed party members at the ward level to freely participate in the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate.

Speaking after casting his vote, Sanwo-Olu noted that electoral officials and party representatives were on ground to ensure a credible exercise, commending the large turnout of party members at the ward level.

The governor commended the conducive atmosphere at the venue, where about 1,810 people participated, describing it as “calm and family-like”, despite the large crowd that gathered before noon to participate in the exercise.

Sanwo-Olu, who openly declared support for Hamzat, expressed confidence that his would emerge as the party’s flag-bearer and eventually win the governorship election.

He commended party officials from Abuja and the APC leadership for conducting the exercise peacefully and transparently.

Also at the event, Alade Folawiyo, chairman of the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, described the turnout as massive and impressive. Folawiyo expressed optimism that Hamzat would consolidate on the achievements of the Sanwo-Olu administration if elected governor of the state.
He passed a vote of confidence in the deputy governor, saying that he possessed adequate experience and understanding of governance of the state at all levels.

The Lagos Island boss affirmed that continuity in leadership would sustain ongoing infrastructural development and security improvements across the state.

While commending the party faithful, Folawiyo said: “I am so happy that people can see it in the people’s mouth. I see the kind of enthusiasm and happiness in the face of everybody in this ward.”

BusinessDay Media