Former Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Abdulazeez Adediran, known as Jandor, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu has endorsed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the preferred All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
He maintained that neither a presidential endorsement nor a formal declaration of interest from Hamzat himself has been made.
Jandor, now an APC aspirant eyeing the same seat, made the remarks during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, pushing back against the growing narrative that the race had already been settled in Hamzat’s favour.
On Hamzat’s candidacy, Jandor said: “He hasn’t even said to us himself that he is running. He is the deputy governor of Lagos, qualified, with over 20 years of experience in that space.”
Addressing speculation about a presidential endorsement, Jandor argued that aspirants like himself would be the first to receive formal communication if such a decision had been made.
“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 said.
Jandor also noted that the APC had yet to signal any move toward a consensus arrangement, with the party’s current position pointing toward 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 said.
The former PDP chieftain revealed that he had personally met with President Tinubu, who neither discouraged his ambition nor made any promise of the party ticket — an encounter he said reinforced his decision to remain in the race.
Defending his early declaration of interest, Jandor framed it as an expression of self-belief, drawing a parallel with the president’s own political journey.
“Absolutely, because 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.
Speaking about opposition politics in Lagos, Jandor asserted that political consolidation under the APC had effectively neutralised rival parties.
He nonetheless pledged loyalty to the party’s eventual decision, reiterating that he would throw his weight behind whoever secured the APC ticket if he was unsuccessful.
The race for the 2027 Lagos governorship is gathering pace as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu serves out his final term.
Among those rumoured to be interested in the position are 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.
