A political support group, Allied Forces for Lagos Growth, has endorsed the reported move by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to pair Kadri Obafemi Hamzat with Ayo Gbeleyi as running mate for the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.
The group described the alleged arrangement as a strategic political decision that could strengthen the ruling party’s hold on Lagos by combining administrative experience with financial and economic expertise.
In a statement issued by the group’s leader, Kayode Adeyinka, the organisation said Gbeleyi possesses extensive experience in public finance, housing policy, privatisation and economic management, qualities it believes are necessary for sustaining Lagos’ economic growth.
According to the group, Gbeleyi’s previous role as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance positioned him at the centre of one of Africa’s most complex sub-national economies, where he helped shape fiscal policies, revenue generation strategies and budget management systems that strengthened the state’s financial credibility.
The group also highlighted his tenure as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, noting that he played a key role in advancing affordable housing finance initiatives aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
It added that his current role as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises has further deepened his experience in privatisation, public-sector reforms and investor relations, particularly through engagements with global institutions such as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.
The group argued that Gbeleyi’s financial expertise would complement Hamzat’s reputation as a technocrat and experienced administrator. Hamzat, who currently serves as deputy governor under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been widely associated with infrastructure development, urban planning and public sector reforms in Lagos.
According to the group, the combination of Hamzat’s engineering and governance background with Gbeleyi’s economic and financial management experience would provide Lagos with a leadership team capable of handling the demands of one of Africa’s fastest-growing megacities.
The organisation further stated that Lagos, with an economy often compared to those of several African nations, requires leaders with the capacity to attract large-scale investments, manage rapid urbanisation and sustain economic expansion.
The group also stressed the political significance of Gbeleyi’s roots in Oshodi-Isolo, located in Lagos West Senatorial District, which it described as a major voting bloc in the state’s electoral structure.
Observers say the endorsement reflects early political alignments and consultations already taking shape ahead of the 2027 governorship election, even though the APC has yet to officially announce its candidate or running mate for the contest.
Political analysts believe the emerging conversations around succession in Lagos could intensify in the coming months as interest groups, party stakeholders and regional blocs begin positioning themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.
