The All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos State election, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has appointed former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, as the Director-General of his campaign organization. Hamzat officially unveiled the high-profile appointment during an expanded meeting of the state’s campaign council held in Lagos.
According to a report by Arise Television, President Bola Tinubu personally endorsed Obanikoro’s emergence during a recent strategic meeting with top APC stakeholders and state party officials. The president expressed immense confidence in the veteran politician’s capacity to effectively coordinate the election movement, citing his vast leadership background.
In backing the choice, the presidency highlighted Obanikoro’s extensive experience in public service and his proven track record in both elective and appointive positions at both the state and federal levels. Obanikoro is a seasoned political gladiator whose career spans several decades, making him a heavyweight addition to the campaign.
The newly appointed Director-General is no stranger to the state’s highest political stage, having previously contested the fiercely competitive Lagos governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Over the years, he has held a number of strategic government positions across different administrations.
His public service journey with the progressive block dates back to 1999, when he served as the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture during President Tinubu’s tenure as the governor of Lagos State. This early collaboration established a long-standing political relationship within the state’s leadership circle.
Moving to the legislative arm, he later represented the Lagos Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly after winning the Senate election in 2003. He served a full term in the red chamber before transitioning into international diplomacy, where he was appointed as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana in May 2008.
Obanikoro subsequently returned to domestic governance and joined the federal cabinet in 2013 as the Minister of State for Defence. He was later reassigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served diligently as the Minister of State before eventually returning to the ruling APC block.
