The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for the 2027 Lagos State election, ending weeks of speculation over the slot.
Her emergence reportedly displaces earlier expectations that Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the current Secretary to the State Government, would be picked for the position. Salu-Hundeyin, who hails from the Badagry axis, had been widely mentioned as a frontrunner.
Party insiders disclosed that the final choice of Sonayon-James received strong backing from President Bola Tinubu as well as the Lagos State Governance Advisory Committee (GAC), the party’s top decision-making body in the state.
Sonayon-James, who recently paid a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at his Lagos residence, is known within party structures as a grassroots mobiliser. She currently serves as the APC Assistant State Woman Leader in Lagos.
Beyond politics, she also works as an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) specialist and sustainability risk consultant, with experience cutting across community development, governance support, and political organisation.
Meanwhile, Hamzat’s governorship bid is said to be gaining wider support from major stakeholders, including labour unions such as the NLC and TUC, transport associations, and several religious groups who have reportedly pledged backing.
Sources within the party noted that after Hamzat emerged as a consensus candidate, consultations were intensified to identify a suitable deputy, though the initial recommendation reportedly met resistance from some quarters.
Salu-Hundeyin, who was previously considered for the role, has been serving as SSG since June 2023 after her tenure as Federal Commissioner at the National Population Commission. In her current position, she oversees key administrative coordination within the state government and contributes to policy implementation and development planning, including budget-related processes.
Party stakeholders say the selection of Sonayon-James reflects a broader strategic alignment within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections in Lagos.