Tinubu 2027: Hamzat Reveals Why President’s Chances Are ‘Far, Far, Far Better

Lagos State Deputy Governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Obafemi Hamzat, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands a stronger chance of securing re-election in 2027.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 14, Hamzat said Tinubu’s prospects for the 2027 presidential election were “far, far better” than they were during the 2023 election.

According to reports, Hamzat said the political circumstances surrounding the 2027 election would be different from those that shaped the previous presidential contest, noting that Nigerians now had an opportunity to assess Tinubu based on his performance in office.

The Lagos deputy governor also argued that religious considerations, which he said affected Tinubu’s electoral prospects in 2023, had reduced significantly.

He maintained that the President’s appointments and policies had demonstrated that his administration was not guided by religious or ethnic considerations.

Hamzat recalled that Tinubu faced concerns during the 2023 election over his Muslim faith and regional identity, particularly as a southern Muslim candidate contesting in a country where the South-South and South-East regions have predominantly Christian populations.

“So in the South, if you are a Muslim candidate as a president, you are a minority. So the challenge is, can you appeal minorities?” he said.

The APC candidate argued that Tinubu’s actions since assuming office had shown that his religious identity did not determine his choice of officials or the direction of government policies.

“Our president is somebody that looks for credible people. He’s blinded to your ethnicity. He’s blinded to your religion,” Hamzat said.

He added that some of the criticisms surrounding the administration in the past had focused on the religious identities of key officials, including the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Hamzat further said the President now had a record in office that he could present to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election, while the religious concerns surrounding his candidacy had, in his view, diminished.

“It’s the president. He has records that he can defend. And then, of course, the issue of religion, I think, has gone down. People see that we are all together,” he said.

The Lagos deputy governor also cited the state as an example of religious cooperation, noting that despite being a Muslim, he regularly participates in Christian gatherings.

He referenced the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), where Christian and Muslim leaders engage in discussions on issues affecting residents.

Hamzat recalled a disagreement over an autopsy-related policy, explaining that members of the Muslim community initially opposed the measure because of the Islamic practice of burying the dead promptly.

According to him, the matter was eventually resolved through dialogue between Christian and Muslim representatives under the NIREC platform.

Against this backdrop, Hamzat expressed optimism that Tinubu would record a stronger electoral performance in 2027 than he did in 2023, particularly in Lagos State.

“So I think the chances are far, far, far better,” he said.