Former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Lagos politician Abdul-Azeez Adediran have withdrawn from the 2027 Lagos State governorship race under the All Progressives Congress (APC), throwing their weight behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the party’s consensus candidate.

The development follows the endorsement of Hamzat by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, after which the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, formally presented him as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 governorship election.

In a statement on Thursday, Ambode congratulated Hamzat on his emergence, describing him as a loyal party stalwart whose decades-long commitment to the APC earned him the consensus ticket. He noted that Hamzat’s consultations across party structures demonstrated unity, dedication, and leadership capacity.

Ambode also reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s administration, linking the future prosperity of Lagos and Nigeria to the continuity of the current leadership. He pledged to mobilise massive voter support for the APC, setting a target of three million votes for the president in Lagos, while calling for the return of all APC candidates to the National Assembly.

Similarly, Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, announced his withdrawal from the race shortly after purchasing the party’s nomination forms. In a statement shared on social media, he said his decision followed the endorsement of Hamzat by party leaders and was taken in the interest of unity within the APC.

He stressed that stepping down was not a reflection of weakness but a demonstration of discipline and respect for party cohesion, adding that he remains committed to the party’s collective success.

The withdrawals signal a growing consolidation within the Lagos APC, as key aspirants align behind Hamzat ahead of the 2027 governorship contest.