By Professor Ishaq Akintola
‎
‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who emerged governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State yesterday.
‎
‎In the congratulatory message signed by the Executive Director of the civil liberties organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Friday, 22nd May, 2026, the group also felicitated with all successful candidates at all levels of the primary elections regardless of their political, religious or ethnic leanings.
‎
‎According to MURIC:
‎
‎”Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat yesterday emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.
‎
‎”He emerged after scaling through rigorous screening by party officials and winning the election’s primary. According to the Returning Officer, retired General Jonathan Temlong, Dr. Hamzat polled 657,917 votes to defeat his rival, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, who secured one vote only.
‎
‎”Two other candidates, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, and Samuel Ajose, had earlier withdrawn from the race.
‎
‎MURIC heartily congratulates Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat for this great feat. We look forward to its replication at the 2027 general elections.
‎
‎”MURIC appreciates the endorsements of Dr. Hamzat by APC party leaders as well as the unreserved blessing of his candidature by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
‎
‎”In the same vein, we felicitate with all candidates who won their primaries whether at governorship, senatorial or other levels. Your victories are fruits of your labour.
‎
‎”Meanwhile we reaffirm our earlier position that there is no desertification of expertise in Islamdom. Highly skilled Muslims exist in all fields of human endeavour.
‎
‎”Nigerian kingmakers and political godfathers should therefore stop looking for competent individuals who can be governors, lawmakers, ministers, commissioners, heads of agencies, etc among Christians alone.
‎
‎”We are not allergic to Christians emerging candidates or presidents, governors, etc but monopoly of public offices by Christians under the excuse of searching for competence must be avoided.
‎
‎”The emergence of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the eminently qualified gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Lagos State after rigorous screening and a seamless and credible primary election, bears eloquent testimony to our position.
‎
‎”More testimonies of the brilliance and high competence of Muslims abound in the excellent performance of Muslims in public office around the country.
‎
‎”Professor Ishaq Oloyede has left an indellible mark on the sand of time in JAMB. In like manner, Professor Ibrahim Ali Isa Pantami laid a solid foundation at the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. Their records will be difficult to break for a long time. It is noteworthy that both were, essentially, Islamic scholars, which adds more lustre to their laurels.”

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).