Lagos labour unions have thrown their support behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as he positions himself for the 2027 governorship election. The endorsement was announced on Friday at the annual Workers’ Day ceremony in Lagos, held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
The declaration was made jointly by the Lagos state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). NLC State Chairperson Agnes Funmi Sessi and TUC leader Abiodun Aladetan led the statements, indicating a growing consensus among labour groups for Hamzat’s candidacy.
The labour backing adds to a series of endorsements that have emerged ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship race. Within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), senior figures such as the party’s Governance Advisory Council and Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu have already signalled preference for Hamzat as the party’s successor. State APC officials, including Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa have also publicly supported the deputy governor. The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) is among other professional bodies that have expressed endorsement.
Labour’s alignment with the Sanwo‑Olu‑Hamzat coalition is not new. In the 2023 governorship election, both the NLC and TUC backed the Sanwo‑Olu‑Hamzat ticket, which secured a second term for the administration. The renewed support reflects continuity in the relationship between Lagos’ organised labour and the current state leadership.
Commenting on the endorsements, Hamzat thanked the unions and other supporters, reaffirming his intention to build on the projects initiated by the current administration. He emphasized a governance approach centred on continuity, inclusiveness and accountability.
The endorsements signal a consolidation of political support for Hamzat as the 2027 election approaches. With labour unions, key APC stakeholders and professional associations publicly backing his potential candidacy, Hamzat’s position as a frontrunner within the party is becoming increasingly firm. The next phase will involve formal party primaries and the broader mobilisation of voters across Lagos State.
