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Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Femi Olaniyi, has described Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as part of what he called the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state.
Olaniyi made the statement yesterday during an interview on ARISE News while discussing the 2027 Lagos governorship election and Hamzat’s emergence as the APC’s preferred successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to him, Hamzat’s long involvement in the state government means he is part of the administration’s record and cannot present himself as an agent of change.
“The status quo of Femi Hamzat is the status quo of failure,” Olaniyi said.
“Because the failure we are reckoning with APC now goes with him. He has been part of this failure to date.
“So what is he coming to change now?”
Olaniyi was responding to questions on whether he considered himself more qualified than other candidates expected to contest the election, including Hamzat.
He argued that qualification for leadership should be measured by the ability to address political and governance challenges, rather than simply maintaining existing structures.
“Definitely. Because what makes anyone to be qualified to even rule in a single community, not even the state like Lagos, is to maintain the status quo and to make sure that you are able to resolve any issues that emanated from your own political party or the political party you are running under,” he said.
Hamzat has served as deputy governor under Sanwo-Olu, placing him at the centre of the current administration as political parties prepare for the 2027 governorship contest.
Olaniyi’s comments are part of the emerging political debate over continuity, performance and the direction of Lagos ahead of the 2027 election.
