Why Hamzat should succeed Sanwo-Olu, by Faleke

House of Representatives member and Coordinator of the Justice Forum, James Faleke, spoke with Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and News Editor BUNMI OGUNMODEDE on preparations of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) for next year’s polls

What are your expectations about 2027 concerning Lagos?

Well, thank you very much. As an individual, my expectation is for God’s blessings,

 that He keeps us alive and gives us the opportunity to continue serving and showcasing ourselves. Regarding the 2027 elections, I expect that negotiations and mobilisations will translate into massive votes. I anticipate strong support for Bola Tinubu and for the APC in Lagos, including the next governor of the state. I believe the outcome will be more positive than what we saw in 2023. Lagos has evolved, and I strongly believe that things will be better and more successful in 2027.

What qualities do you expect from the next governor of Lagos State?

First, I expect loyalty, someone who is committed to the party and understands its structure. The person should be well-grounded in Lagos politics and familiar with key stakeholders. Beyond that, the next governor must be a people-oriented leader, accessible, open, and responsive to the needs of Lagosians. Someone who genuinely carries the love of the people and is ready to address their concerns.

You have been linked to a post endorsing Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat. Did you author it, and what informed that position?

Yes, I made that post because I believe in him. I see him as the right person for this moment.

Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has served in the cabinets of Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, and Akinwunmi Ambode, and has also been Deputy Governor for eight years. This means he understands the fundamentals of governance in Lagos. He has a strong background, excellent relationships across the political space, and good rapport with the people. He is respectful and capable of continuing from where Babajide Sanwo-Olu will stop, taking Lagos to the next level.

That is why I have chosen to support him and I am also calling on my supporters in Ikeja Federal Constituency to do the same.

Are these views consistent with your earlier position that your group should produce the next governor of Lagos?

If you belong to a political party or group, it is natural to want your members to succeed.

As a coordinator, I have the responsibility to guide our members and provide direction. With many aspirants in the race, it is important to mobilise and ensure our members are not divided. That is exactly what we are doing, guiding them to support a candidate we believe in.

What conditions will guarantee a free and fair primary election?

The party at the national level has the authority to determine the process, and the law is clear, it can either be consensus or direct primaries. Whichever option is adopted will be respected. Leaders in Lagos understand the political landscape and will act accordingly. As for me, I am a party member, and my wish is for my preferred candidate to win the primaries.

In 2023, your party failed to secure Lagos in the presidential election. What is being done to prevent a repeat?

The person we are supporting is a seasoned politician who understands strategy and grassroots mobilisation. We have learnt from the past. Many of our supporters did not come out to vote in 2023, and that affected the outcome. This time, we are working harder, mobilising better, and ensuring such lapses do not happen again.

How united is the Lagos APC chapter?

We are very united, 100%. Recall that in 2014, I was among the first elected officials to endorse Akinwunmi Ambode. Today again, I am among the first to openly support and call for endorsement of the next governor, by God’s grace.

How will the nomination process avoid post-primary crises?

I do not foresee any crisis because the process is clear. Where consensus is possible, it will be adopted. Where it is not, direct primaries will be conducted. This approach prevents imposition, which is often the cause of post-primary disputes.

The system is open, fair, and allows everyone to participate.

What is responsible for the perceived overconfidence of your party in Lagos?

We are not overconfident. That is why we are working tirelessly. Lagos stands out in terms of infrastructure, development planning, and political structure. Having travelled across many states, I can say Lagos has a strong foundation. However, we are not claiming perfection. We are committed to improving on what already exists.

Opposition leaders like Rotimi Amaechi and Aminu Tambuwal have said they will defeat APC in 2027. How do you respond?

Opposition figures are expected to promote their parties. They have to sell their agenda.

However, we will focus on Lagos. We are working hard to improve our performance and ensure better results than before.

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Voter turnout has been declining. What is being done to address this?

That is exactly what we want to correct.

By allowing popular candidates to emerge through transparent processes, people will feel more motivated to participate. When candidates emerge fairly, it increases trust and voter turnout.

There are concerns that governance may suffer due to electioneering. What is your response?

That has never been the case in Lagos.

Even during election periods, development projects continue. Local governments are actively executing projects, roads, schools, and more. Lagos remains focused on governance while preparing for elections.

As you can see from the projects executed under Babajide Sanwo-Olu, development has not slowed down.

Where do we expect to see you in 2027?

Just wait and see. Thank you.