A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Samuel Ajose, has accused Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of trying to impose a consensus candidacy for the 2027 governorship election because he is scared of facing open primaries.
Ajose, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, said true consensus requires the agreement of all aspirants who have obtained nomination forms.
“We understand what consensus means. Consensus says that every aspirant who has picked the party nomination form must consent to it. We don’t know why Hamzat is scared of going into the primaries,” Ajose stated.
He insisted that the party constitution demands primaries, adding that any aspirant confident in their popularity, networks, and grassroots support should be ready to test their strength at the polls.
“If you are big, you have the popularity, the networks and the grassroots support, then let’s go into the primaries. Why is everybody scared of the primaries? Everybody must go into the primaries; that is what the constitution says,” he added.
Ajose described recent endorsements of Hamzat by the APC Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as a “kangaroo endorsement,” claiming it was done without the consent of other aspirants and without a formal meeting involving all contenders.
He further claimed that the masses in Lagos are tired of the current leadership and are yearning for something new.
The controversy follows reports that the GAC, the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, adopted Hamzat as the consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship race during a meeting on Tuesday at Lagos House, Marina.
By
TheTimes Nigeria
