The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday officially unveiled Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, for the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.
Recall that EKO HOT BLOG reported earlier in May that all indications pointed to Sonayon-James as the party’s choice of deputy governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 elections in Lagos State.
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Announcing the decision, Lagos APC chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, who also chairs the forum of APC state chairmen, said her emergence followed extensive consultations and a rigorous selection process that considered competence, leadership capacity, grassroots acceptance, party loyalty, and the ability to contribute to Lagos’s development.
“A vote for the party represents a vote for continuity, prosperity, inclusive growth, and a greater Lagos,” Ojelabi said.
From Badagry to the Party Structure
Sonayon-James, 41, is an indigene of Badagry and a member of the royal family of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry West LCDA. She comes from a lineage with a longstanding history of political participation and public service. She is the granddaughter of the late Oba Afolabi Ogungbe James and daughter of the late Hon. Bolarinwa Sonayon-James, a former Member of the House of Representatives.
The name “Sonayon,” drawn from the Ègùn language spoken in Badagry and neighbouring communities, translates as “Tomorrow is Bright” or “Better Days Ahead.”
Her entry into formal politics came through the Badagry West LCDA, where she served as Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Social Services. During that tenure, she championed programmes spanning agricultural development, women’s empowerment, youth inclusion, educational support, and social intervention.
From there, she rose through the Lagos APC structure; first as an aspirant for the chairmanship of Badagry West LCDA to her current position as Deputy Woman Leader of the party in Lagos State. Supporters have dubbed her the “Sisi Eko of APC,” a title that is sure to gain traction across all 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in the state as the campaign season kicks off.
Professional and Academic Background
Beyond politics, Sonayon-James brings more than 15 years of professional experience spanning public policy, institutional development, sustainability, risk governance, human capital strategy, and community development.
She holds a BSc in Business and Human Resources Management from the University of Hull, United Kingdom, and an MSc in Social Work (Community Development) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH.
Her corporate career has included serving as Managing Director of DGS Chauffeurs and Logistics and as Sustainability Risk and Strategy Head at Conrad Clark Nigeria. In 2020, she joined a team of social policy practitioners to review the Lagos State Youth Policy in alignment with the United Nations Youth Framework.
The Badagry Calculation
The nomination of a Badagry indigene as deputy governorship candidate carries clear political logic for the APC.
Badagry Division, comprising Badagry, Badagry West, and Apa LCDAs, sits at Lagos State’s western flank, bordering the Benin Republic. It is historically distinct from the Lagos Island-mainland political core, and its Ègùn-speaking communities have at times felt peripheral to power in the state capital.
Selecting Sonayon-James signals an intentional effort by the APC to consolidate that flank ahead of 2027. Her royal lineage, LCDA governance experience, and deep community roots in the area give the party a credible face in a division that could influence margins in a competitive election cycle.
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There is also a broader optics dimension. Pairing Hamzat, a Lagos-rooted technocrat, with a woman who built her career at the grassroots level reinforces the party’s messaging around inclusion and women’s representation, a narrative the APC has leaned on increasingly as opposition parties seek to chip away at its dominance in the state.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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