Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Obafemi Hamzat, has expressed strong confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure re-election with significantly improved prospects compared to 2023.
Speaking on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 14, Hamzat stated that Tinubu’s chances of winning a second term are “far, far better” than in the last presidential election. He noted that the political landscape has shifted, giving Nigerians the opportunity to evaluate the president based on his actual performance in office rather than pre-election perceptions.
According to the deputy governor, religious and regional concerns that weighed on Tinubu’s candidacy in 2023 have diminished. As a Muslim candidate from the South, Tinubu faced particular challenges in the predominantly Christian South-South and South-East regions. Hamzat argued that those dynamics have eased because Nigerians can now see that the president’s appointments and policies are not driven by religious or ethnic considerations.
“Our president is somebody that looks for credible people, that looks for intelligent people. He’s blinded to your ethnicity. He’s blinded to your religion,” Hamzat said. He recalled earlier criticisms focused on the religious identities of key officials, including the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank governor, but maintained that the president’s record now speaks for itself.
Hamzat pointed to Lagos State as a practical example of successful interfaith cooperation. Though a Muslim, he regularly participates in Christian gatherings. He also highlighted the work of the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), where Christian and Muslim leaders jointly address issues affecting the state. One such matter—an autopsy-related regulation that initially drew opposition from the Muslim community over burial timelines—was resolved through dialogue between the two groups.
The APC governorship hopeful expressed particular optimism about Tinubu’s improved standing in Lagos State, concluding: “So I think the chances are far, far, far better.”