Lagos: Hamzat's Path Cleared for APC Ticket; Akwa Ibom's PDP Surprises Emerge

The political chessboard for Nigeria’s 2027 general election is now fully laid out. Party primaries, the initial crucible for aspirants, commence nationwide next Thursday, April 23, 2026, and will run for six intense weeks until May 30. Ruzzen keeps a close watch on two critical states: Lagos, where a political dynasty confidently asserts its influence, and Akwa Ibom, where the incumbent governor navigates a peculiar path to an almost unopposed nomination.

In Lagos State, the political calculus is clear. The formidable Justice Forum, a powerful bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC, Lagos), has declared unequivocal support for incumbent Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (APC, Lagos). This endorsement positions Hamzat as the undisputed frontrunner for the governorship ticket, effectively sidelining other ambitious chieftains within the party.

The Justice Forum’s directive to its supporters leaves no room for doubt. Key figures backing Hamzat include former Governor Babatunde Fashola (APC, Lagos), ex-Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (APC, Lagos), and the chairman of the influential Governors’ Advisory Council (GAC), Tajudeen Olusi (APC, Lagos). This collective weight truncates the aspirations of individuals like Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) and House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (APC, Lagos). Hon. James Faleke (APC, Ikeja Federal Constituency), Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, confirmed to journalists that Hamzat is the preferred successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (APC, Lagos), a declaration made shortly after a GAC delegation met with President Bola Tinubu (APC, Nigeria). Despite the presence of other aspirants like wealthy Badagry businessman Samuel Ajose, the ticket is firmly in Hamzat’s grasp.

Akwa Ibom: Eno's Swift Ascent Amidst PDP's Internal Battle

Akwa Ibom State presents a contrasting yet equally compelling narrative. Governor Umo Eno (PDP, Akwa Ibom) faces virtually no internal opposition for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Akwa Ibom) governorship ticket. His support group, the Arise with Renewed Hope Initiative (AWRHI), has been actively mobilising across the state, and even venturing into Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Lagos, to garner support from Akwa Ibom indigenes. All indications point to Pastor Eno securing the nomination unopposed, marking a rare rancour-free primary for the state’s dominant party.

However, the broader PDP landscape in Akwa Ibom remains chaotic. What many anticipated as a fierce contest between former House of Representatives member Hon. Onofiok Luke (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and former Commissioner Comrade Ini Ememobong (PDP, Akwa Ibom) for the governorship ticket has failed to materialise. The party’s unabated internal crisis acts as a potent disincentive, leaving both men conspicuously silent on their ambitions. The question of which PDP faction INEC officially recognises further complicates the picture, creating a vacuum in leadership and direction.

Amidst this disarray, broadcast journalist Michael Bush (PDP, Akwa Ibom) has emerged as an unexpected aspirant, announcing his governorship intention within the PDP. Fliers circulating on social media platforms boldly declare Bush’s ambition as a “divine agenda,” injecting an element of surprise into an otherwise stalled contest.

Bush's Ambition: Rage or Vision?

Bush’s entry, however, raises pertinent questions about his true motivations. Prior to his declaration, he was a vocal critic of Governor Eno in a national daily, often lambasting the administration. Associates suggest his anger stems from disappointment over not being appointed a commissioner, believing he was not adequately rewarded for his support during previous campaigns. Governor Eno’s supporters, conversely, insist the journalist has benefited significantly from the governor’s benevolence.

The political class in Akwa Ibom wonders if Bush’s foray into the race is driven by genuine conviction or simply by personal grievance. A senator remarked that Bush’s actions and pronouncements in the coming weeks will reveal his true intentions: whether he continues to dwell in dejection or if he can articulate a coherent and alternative campaign message for the people of Akwa Ibom.

Elsewhere in the state, the African Democratic Congress (ADC, Akwa Ibom) has concluded its congresses, electing a new leadership team. Senator John James Akpanudoedehe (ADC, Akwa Ibom), now designated as the party leader in the state, is set to effortlessly bag the governorship ticket, solidifying another clear path to the ballot.