CLOSE-UP: Damilola Sonayon-James, the Badagry princess on historic path to becoming Lagos deputy governor

On Monday, the political landscape of Lagos witnessed a calculated shift as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) finalised its ticket for the 2027 governorship race.

The party unveiled 41-year-old Damilola Sonayon-James as the running mate to Obafemi Hamzat, the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Lagos state.

For the ruling party, her selection is a strategic response to contemporary demands for youth inclusion and gender balance; but for Sonayon-James, it marks a remarkable leap from local government setbacks to a prominent position in state-level politics.

FROM THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KWEME TO THE GRASSROOTS

Sonayon-James carries a notable political and cultural pedigree. She is a princess of the Kweme Kingdom in the Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), being the granddaughter of the late Oba Afolabi Ogungbe James.

Her father, the late Hon. Bolarinwa Sonayon James, served as a member of the house of representatives, an influential grassroots leader, and a respected figure within the Badagry division of Lagos.

Despite her family background, her journey through the ranks of the APC required patience. She previously contested for the chairmanship of Badagry West LCDA and was once passed over for the role of secretary to the local government (SLG).

Rather than withdrawing from politics, she accepted a role as the supervisory councillor for agriculture and social services within the same LCDA.

Her work at the local government level, including infrastructure and social programmes, established her presence in the district.

Within the party hierarchy, she advanced from state assistant woman leader to the position of Lagos APC deputy state woman leader, earning the moniker “Sisi Eko of APC” among party faithful.

THE TECHNOCRAT: ESG AND SUSTAINABILITY

Beyond political organising, Sonayon-James brings private-sector experience to the ticket. She is an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expert and a sustainability risk consultant.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and human resources management from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, alongside a master’s degree in social work, specialising in community development, from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

Her professional background includes a six-year tenure at the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), followed by roles as head of sustainability risk and strategy at Conrad Clark Nigeria, and consulting work for Bolt Nigeria.

In 2020, she joined a technical team that reviewed the Lagos state youth policy, aligning its framework with United Nations guidelines to improve youth inclusion.

THE 2027 STRATEGIC CALCULATION

Cornelius Ojelabi, Lagos APC chairman and chairman of the forum of APC state chairmen, said her emergence followed extensive consultations and a rigorous selection process.

Ojelabi said the process considered competence, leadership capacity, grassroots acceptance, party loyalty, and the ability to contribute to the development of Lagos State — criteria she scaled.

He said Sonayon-James distinguished herself through her commitment to service, dedication to the party, and track record of leadership in public and private life.

However, the decision by President Bola Tinubu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) to endorse Sonayon-James addresses key geopolitical and demographic factors in Lagos.

The Badagry division has long sought greater representation in the state’s leadership. Therefore, her selection positions her to potentially become the first Badagry indigene to serve as deputy governor.

At 41, her nomination addresses calls from civil society and youth groups for generational transition in governance, while sustaining the state’s tradition of female deputy governors.

As the APC prepares for the 2027 general election, the Hamzat-Sonayon-James ticket combines executive continuity with corporate governance experience.

For the sustainability consultant from Badagry, the upcoming campaign will test her ability to translate grassroots appeal and professional background into state-wide governance. (TheCable)