Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, on emerging as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.

Sanwo-Olu conveyed his congratulatory message in a statement issued on Friday after Hamzat was declared the winner of the party’s direct primary election conducted across the state on Thursday.

The governor described Hamzat’s emergence as a reflection of the confidence reposed in him by members of the APC and residents of Lagos State.

He also praised party members for their peaceful conduct, loyalty, and solidarity during the primary election process.

“On behalf of my family, I congratulate Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat on his emergence as the standard bearer of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, in next year’s gubernatorial election in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“It is my belief that your personal vision for the continuous growth and development of our state will be for the benefit of all.”

Sanwo-Olu said the impressive turnout of party faithful at polling centres across Lagos demonstrated support for Hamzat and confidence in his ability to consolidate on the achievements of the current administration.

He urged members of the APC not to relent in their support for the party as preparations continue ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“There is still more work ahead of us as a party, and I urge all members to remain united and committed to the progress of Lagos State and the success of our great party,” the governor added.

Hamzat’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate positions him as the party’s flagbearer in the race to succeed Sanwo-Olu in 2027.

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The son of a former Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose, Boluwatife; the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; Deputy Speaker, Bolaji Olagbaju; and the Chairman, Ekiti South-West Local Government, Richard Apolola, have emerged All Progressives Congress candidates for the 2027 state assembly election.

The Chairman, APC House of Assembly Primary Election Committee for Ekiti State, Lateef Ibirogba, made this known while announcing the winners of the primary election for the 26 state constituencies in the state on Thursday evening.

The House of Assembly primary elections were conducted in wards across the state on Wednesday.

Ibirogba stated, “The primary elections were in two stages – 17 out of the 26 constituencies had affirmation because the aspirants were unopposed. Even where aspirants are unopposed, there must still be affirmation, so, we had affirmation in those 17 constituencies.

“In the remaining nine constituencies, we had election and winners emerged through the ballot,” he said.

Announcing the results in Ado Ekiti on Thursday after receiving reports from collation officers across the 26 constituencies, Ibirogba, a former Commissioner for Information in Lagos State, announced the names of the 17 aspirants returned as candidates through affirmation as Ayorinde Ogunsakin, Ikole 1; Olaoye Ogunsakin, Ekiti East 2; and Bose Olowookere, Efon.

Others are Bolaji Olagbaju, Ado 2, Oludare Ogunlana, Ekiti South West 2; Kemi Olaleye, Oye 2; Emmanuel Omotayo, Iṣẹ Orun and Johnson Oyekola, Ekiti West 2; Sunkanmi Owolabi, Ikere 2; and Ojo Adeolu, Ido-Osi 1.

The remaining are Atinuke Omolayo, Emure; Sunkanmi Onipede, Moba 1; Kemisola Ogunleye, Ikere 1; Agbede Opeyemi, Irepodun-Ifelodun 1; Yomi Ayorinde, Ido-Osi 2; Adeoye  Aribasoye, Ikole 2; and Ola lekan Ijidale, Gbonyin.

For the nine constituencies where elections were held, the winners declared by the committee are: Ahmed Olutope, Ekiti East 2; Monsurat Oladipupo, Ekiti West 1; Richard Apolola, Ekiti Southwest 1; Ayodeji Adarabierin, Ado 1; Emmanuel Omolaja, Ilejemeje; Boluwatife Fayose, Irepodun-Ifelodun 2; Eyitayo Fabunmi, Oye 1; Kole Ayeni, Ijero and Matthew Kekereawo, Moba 2.

The African Democratic Congress has said the Federal High Court ruling voiding parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s regulations for the 2027 elections would trigger a mass defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The ADC stated this on Thursday while reacting to the court judgment on INEC’s guidelines relating to the deadline for party primaries and membership registration.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the judgment as a vindication of its earlier objections to some provisions of the electoral body’s guidelines.

According to the ADC, it had raised concerns over what it described as restrictive timelines for party primaries and membership registration when the guidelines were introduced.

“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the Constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the statement read.

The party argued that the court ruling would strengthen freedom of association by removing restrictions placed on politicians seeking to contest elections on alternative political platforms.

“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC.

“Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party,” Abdullahi stated.

ADC said it welcomed the judgment and expressed optimism that the ruling would deepen democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

PUNCH Online had reported that the court on Wednesday nullified key portions of the timetable and schedule of activities released by INEC for the 2027 general elections, ruling that the electoral body exceeded its powers by shortening timelines expressly provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.

Under the timetable released by INEC, political parties were directed to conduct their primaries within a compressed timeframe ahead of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly elections slated for February and March 2027.

The commission had also fixed deadlines for the submission of candidates’ particulars, replacement of candidates, publication of final lists, and the end of campaigns before the statutory periods provided in the Electoral Act.

However, the court held that those deadlines were inconsistent with the law.

It ruled that political parties are entitled to withdraw and replace candidates up to 90 days before an election, adding that the commission lacked the power to impose an earlier deadline.

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