………As Hamzat Emerges As APC Lagos Governorship Candidate.
Emmanuel lkpeama
The emergence of Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress has been widely described by political stakeholders, party loyalists and governance experts as a major endorsement of competence, continuity and progressive leadership in Lagos State.
Renowned for his exceptional blend of technocratic expertise, administrative experience and grassroots political influence, Dr. Hamzat stands out as one of the most accomplished public servants within the progressive political family in Nigeria.
His emergence is seen as a strategic move aimed at sustaining the developmental strides and governance philosophy that have defined Lagos State under successive APC administrations.
Born on September 19, 1964, Dr. Hamzat hails from a respected political and royal family in Lagos Island. His father, the late Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, played a significant role in the progressive political movement in the South-West, serving in the Lagos State House of Assembly and later as Commissioner for Transportation.
Dr. Hamzat’s academic journey reflects a strong foundation in excellence and innovation. He attended Odu-Abore Memorial Primary School in Mushin before proceeding to Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo State.
He later obtained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan in 1986 and 1988 respectively. Driven by his passion for technological advancement and systems development, he earned a PhD in System Process Engineering from Cranfield University in 1992.
Before venturing fully into politics, Dr. Hamzat built an impressive international professional career across engineering, information technology, finance and systems management.
He worked with globally recognised institutions including RTP Consulting Services, Columbia University, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Oando Plc, where he served as Chief Information Officer and Group Head IT Strategist.
His political career gained prominence in 2005 when former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him Commissioner for Science and Technology in Lagos State.
Owing to his remarkable performance, innovative reforms and commitment to modern governance, he was retained by former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, making him one of the longest-serving commissioners in the state’s history.
During his tenure, Dr. Hamzat spearheaded several groundbreaking digital transformation initiatives that modernised governance and positioned Lagos State as one of Africa’s leading technology-driven governments.
His contributions significantly improved public sector efficiency, transparency, policy implementation and service delivery.
He later served at the federal level as Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure under former Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, where he contributed immensely to infrastructure development and strategic policy coordination across Nigeria.
In 2019, Dr. Hamzat emerged as the running mate to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and was elected Deputy Governor of Lagos State.
The administration was re-elected in 2023, further strengthening his role in governance, economic planning, transportation development, education reforms and policy coordination within the state.
Widely respected across political, professional and grassroots circles, Dr. Hamzat is regarded as a bridge between technocratic governance and progressive politics.
His leadership style, administrative depth, loyalty and strategic vision have continued to earn him admiration within and beyond the APC fold.
Political observers and party faithful believe his candidacy represents a continuation of the developmental vision initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and sustained by successive progressive administrations in Lagos State, expressing optimism that his leadership will usher in another era of stability, innovation and inclusive development for the state.
Earlier,the primary election, held in Lagos State — widely regarded as the political base of the APC and the home state of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR — showcased overwhelming party unity, loyalty and confidence in the leadership capacity of Dr. Hamzat.
Announcing the result of the exercise, the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for Lagos State House of Assembly and Governorship, Rt. Gen. Jon Temlong, disclosed that a total of 657,974 accredited party members participated in the primary election.
According to the officially declared result, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat secured an unprecedented 657,917 votes to emerge as the party’s governorship flag bearer, while Otunba Jim Kamal polled one vote.
The atmosphere at the venue reflected the strength, organisation and enduring political structure of the APC in Lagos State, with party faithful, stakeholders and supporters hailing the outcome as a victory for continuity, progressive governance and visionary leadership.
The exercise witnessed the presence of top-ranking party leaders and government officials, including the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, alongside the three Senators representing Lagos State at the National Assembly: Mukahil Adetokunbo Abiru, Idiat Aderanti Adebule and Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Alhaji Mutiu Are; Rt. Hon. James Faleke; the National Youth Leader of the APC, Ambassador Dayo Israel; the Conference57 Chairman; representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, members of the Lagos State House of Representatives, House of Assembly and members of the State Executive Council.
At the conclusion of the exercise, Hon. Jimi Benson, who served as the Returning Agent for Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, officially signed and received the result sheet before presenting it to the APC governorship candidate.
Rt. Gen. Jon Temlong subsequently presented the official result sheet to representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with electoral procedures and party guidelines.