Former Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has dismissed widespread speculation that President Bola Tinubu has endorsed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Speaking on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Jandor—now an APC aspirant—insisted that neither an official endorsement from the president nor a formal declaration of intent from Hamzat has been made.
“He hasn’t even said to us himself that he is running,” Jandor said, acknowledging Hamzat’s qualifications and long-standing experience in governance. “He is the deputy governor of Lagos, qualified, with over 20 years of experience in that space.”
Addressing claims of a presidential nod, Jandor maintained that aspirants within the party would have been formally notified if such a decision had been taken.
“No, the President hasn’t endorsed anyone. I am an aspirant, and we are a few people also gunning for this. We will be the first set of people to know if there is anything like that because communication will come,” he stated.
He further noted that the APC had not indicated any move toward adopting a consensus candidate, stressing that the party’s current position favours direct primaries.
“As we speak, the party says it’s going to be direct primaries. If tomorrow it says this is what we are doing, we will fall in line. The party is supreme,” he added.
Jandor also revealed that he had met personally with President Tinubu, who neither discouraged his ambition nor gave assurances regarding the party’s ticket. According to him, the interaction reinforced his resolve to remain in the race.
Defending his early declaration of interest, Jandor said it reflects confidence in his candidacy, drawing parallels with Tinubu’s own political path.
“If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will believe in you. When the President was running for the ticket, he came out to say he wanted to run,” he said.
On the broader political landscape, Jandor argued that opposition forces in Lagos have been significantly weakened, attributing this to the APC’s political consolidation in the state.
Despite this, he pledged loyalty to the party’s eventual decision, assuring that he would support whoever emerges as the APC candidate if he is not selected.
As Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approaches the end of his second term, the race for the 2027 Lagos governorship is gaining momentum. Several prominent figures—including Obafemi Hamzat, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, presidential aide Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minister of Education Tunji Alausa—are widely speculated to be eyeing the position.
President Tinubu is expected to remain a key influence in the selection process, alongside the APC’s powerful Governorship Advisory Council.
Comments