Fresh political undercurrents have enveloped the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress following firm indications that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not endorsed any aspirant for the state’s next governorship election.
Contrary to viral claims, there is no truth in reports suggesting that the President has backed the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, or any other contender as the party’s flag bearer.
The clarification comes in the wake of a widely circulated WhatsApp message which alleged that a recent meeting between Tinubu and leaders of the Governance Advisory Council had produced a consensus candidate.
The message, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, created the impression that a decisive political endorsement had been sealed behind closed doors.
The speculation gained further traction after a federal lawmaker, James Faleke, publicly declared support for Hamzat on his official X platform, a move interpreted by some as reflecting a broader party position.
However, investigations have since revealed that no such endorsement was made, with credible party sources dismissing the claim as unfounded and misleading.
Insiders disclosed that a photograph showing the President alongside prominent party figures, including Governance Advisory Council leader Tajudeen Olusi, Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, and chieftain Mutiu Are, was wrongly interpreted as evidence of a political decision.
According to a senior party source, the meeting referenced in the circulating image was purely consultative, focusing on party and state matters, and had no link to succession planning or candidate endorsement.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, were unsuccessful as calls to his line were not answered at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a stakeholder from Kosofe cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified claims, stressing that consultations among party leaders were still ongoing and no formal position had been adopted.
Observers have also urged restraint among supporters, warning that premature speculation could inflame internal divisions, particularly amid growing unease between factions such as the Mandate Group and the Justice Forum over perceived dominance in the unfolding political process.