Despite Primaries Not Yet Conducted, Group Mounts Pressure on APC Guber Aspirant to Nominate Running Mate

A coalition of Lagos indigenes’ advocacy organisations has called on Obafemi Hamzat to consider appointing Boladale Dapo-Thomas as his running mate ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election, a move that could significantly shape the political balance within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The appeal follows recent political developments within the Lagos APC, where Hamzat reportedly secured the endorsement of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the powerful Governance Advisory Council (GAC), widely regarded as the highest decision-making structure within the party in Lagos politics.

The backing has positioned Hamzat as the consensus favourite for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election cycle.

At a public engagement organised by Lagos-based advocacy groups, speakers urged both Hamzat and the APC leadership to select Dapo-Thomas as deputy governorship candidate, arguing that her decades of administrative experience and institutional knowledge make her uniquely qualified for the role.

The coalition described Dapo-Thomas as a technocrat whose career trajectory reflects stability, competence, and deep familiarity with the operational structure of Lagos State governance.

Supporters noted that her professional background within the civil service distinguishes her from conventional political actors, especially at a time when governance experience and administrative continuity are becoming increasingly important in public leadership.

According to the groups, Dapo-Thomas built her reputation through years of service across strategic ministries in Lagos State.

During her tenure in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, she was associated with efforts aimed at modernising urban planning procedures in Nigeria’s commercial capital, a city that has faced rapid population growth, housing pressure, and infrastructure challenges for decades.

They also highlighted her involvement in the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, where she contributed to programmes tied to employment generation, youth engagement, and broader economic inclusion policies initiated by the Lagos State government.

The coalition argued that elevating Dapo-Thomas to the deputy governorship position would not only strengthen the administrative capacity of a future Hamzat-led government but also reinforce the APC’s commitment to gender representation in senior political leadership.

“Colleagues and analysts note that her progression through the civil service was marked by consistency rather than controversy, an attribute supporters say is increasingly valuable in today’s political climate,” the coalition stated.

The endorsement push also reflects a wider political conversation in Lagos over the role of technocrats and indigenous representation in the state’s future leadership structure.

Dapo-Thomas, a retired permanent secretary and indigene of Lagos Island, is viewed by supporters as someone who combines grassroots legitimacy with bureaucratic expertise.

In May 2025, Governor Sanwo-Olu appointed Dapo-Thomas as chairperson of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, placing her at the centre of personnel administration and public service oversight in the state.

The appointment was widely interpreted as recognition of her long-standing contributions to the Lagos civil service system.

Political observers say discussions around the 2027 governorship race are already intensifying despite the election being more than a year away.

Lagos remains Nigeria’s most politically influential state and has historically served as the power base of President Tinubu, making succession politics within the APC especially consequential at both state and national levels.

Hamzat, who has served as deputy governor since 2019 alongside Sanwo-Olu, is widely perceived as a loyal party insider with strong technocratic credentials.

His emergence as the preferred governorship aspirant reflects ongoing efforts within the Lagos APC to maintain continuity while balancing competing political interests among party blocs, traditional stakeholders, and indigenous groups.

For the coalition backing Dapo-Thomas, the argument goes beyond symbolism.

They insist her experience in governance, policy implementation, and public sector reform would complement Hamzat’s leadership style and help sustain institutional continuity in Lagos State if the APC retains power in 2027.