The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress will unveil the governorship manifesto of its 2027 candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, on Friday, October 30, as the party seeks to sustain its development agenda ahead of the next election.
The manifesto launch, scheduled for the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, will outline Hamzat’s vision, policy priorities and plans for governing the state.
Director-General of the PBAT-KOH Campaign Council, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, announced the date at a press conference in Ikeja on Sunday, saying the campaign was anchored on continuity, shared progress and inclusivity.
The event is scheduled to run from 3pm to 5pm, although arrivals will begin at 11am. The campaign council said the proceedings would be broadcast live on Channels Television, Arise TV, TVC, Lagos Television and News Central, as well as digital platforms, including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Obanikoro said the manifesto would build on the achievements of successive APC administrations in Lagos while addressing persistent challenges in transportation, housing, infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and environmental management.
He cited the administrations of former governors Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, as well as the incumbent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as having contributed to the state’s development through investments in infrastructure, public transportation, urban renewal and social services.
“Continuity is not about doing things the same way simply because they have been done before. It is about protecting what works, correcting what needs improvement and building on existing progress,” Obanikoro said.
The campaign director-general argued that Lagos could not afford to abandon the foundations laid by previous administrations, insisting that the state needed experienced leadership capable of responding to the demands of its growing population.
He cited Hamzat’s background in engineering, international finance and public administration as part of the experience underpinning his candidacy.
Hamzat holds a PhD in Systems Process Engineering from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom and previously worked with international financial institutions, including Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Citibank, according to the campaign council.
He has also served as a commissioner in Lagos State and is currently deputy governor under Sanwo-Olu.
Obanikoro said the combination of private-sector experience and years in government would help Hamzat address the challenges confronting Africa’s commercial hub.
He pointed to the completion of the Blue and Red rail lines, road and bridge projects, improvements in schools and hospitals, housing developments and initiatives supporting businesses and young people as areas of progress the candidate would seek to consolidate.
However, he acknowledged that significant challenges remained, particularly given Lagos’s estimated population of about 25 million people and its limited landmass.
The campaign council said its proposed development agenda would be informed by consultations with religious leaders, traditional rulers, market women, traders, young people, professionals, artisans, community leaders and other stakeholders across the state.
According to Obanikoro, the engagements were intended to ensure that the manifesto reflected the concerns of residents from different backgrounds and communities.
“Leadership must listen before it acts. We want the concerns of ordinary Lagosians to inform our priorities,” he said.
He added that the campaign’s commitment to inclusivity meant that residents should not be excluded from development opportunities on the basis of religion, ethnicity, gender, social status or place of origin, while recognising the interests and heritage of Lagos’s indigenous communities.
The council said the manifesto would be made available for public download after its unveiling, allowing residents to examine the proposals and submit feedback through designated party channels.
Attendance at the launch will be by invitation because of limited seating at the venue, the council said.
Obanikoro urged party members, stakeholders and members of the public to follow the presentation and scrutinise the candidate’s proposals, describing the 2027 election as a decision about the future direction of Lagos.
“The message of this campaign is clear: Lagos, let us move forward together,” he said.
