By Ghazali Ibrahim
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has reportedly appointed former Minister of State for Defence and ex-Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, as Director-General of his campaign organisation ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election.
The development has stirred discussions within political circles in the state, with observers describing the move as a strategic effort to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and expand support for Hamzat’s political ambition.
Obanikoro is a veteran politician who has served in several high-profile positions, including senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Minister of State for Defence, and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana.
Political analysts say his appointment could bolster the campaign with his extensive experience in governance, electoral politics, and grassroots engagement across Lagos.
Sources within the campaign were quoted as describing Obanikoro as an experienced political strategist whose background in public service and diplomacy would help drive the campaign’s objectives ahead of the election.
The reported appointment comes as political consultations and alignments ahead of the 2027 governorship race continue to gather momentum in Lagos, a state long considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observers believe the Hamzat-Obanikoro alliance could influence the political landscape in the build-up to the election, with both figures expected to leverage their networks across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
The move has already generated reactions among party members and political stakeholders, highlighting growing interest in the contest for the Lagos governorship.
