The emergence of Damilola Sonayon-James as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress has added a new dimension to the political calculations ahead of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.
The ruling party formally unveiled the 41-year-old politician on Monday as the running mate to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, who recently secured the APC governorship ticket.
For the APC, the decision reflects an attempt to balance experience, youth participation and gender representation within its electoral strategy for the forthcoming poll.
For Sonayon-James, however, the nomination represents the culmination of years of political engagement, persistence and gradual advancement through the structures of the party.
A native of Badagry, Sonayon-James hails from the royal family of the Kweme Kingdom in the Badagry West Local Council Development Area.
She is the granddaughter of the late Oba Afolabi Ogungbe James and the daughter of the late Hon. Bolarinwa Sonayon James, a former member of the House of Representatives who was widely regarded as an influential political figure in the Badagry division.
Despite her political lineage, her rise within the APC was marked by years of grassroots involvement rather than immediate elevation to higher office.
She previously sought the chairmanship position of Badagry West LCDA but was unsuccessful in her bid.
She was also reportedly overlooked for appointment as Secretary to the Local Government at a different stage of her political journey.
Rather than retreat from public life, she remained active within the council administration and later served as Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Social Services.
Her activities at the grassroots level, particularly in community-oriented programmes and local development initiatives, helped strengthen her political profile within the district.
Within the APC structure, Sonayon-James steadily climbed the ranks from State Assistant Woman Leader to Deputy State Woman Leader.
Her growing visibility among party members earned her the nickname “Sisi Eko of APC”, reflecting her prominence within the women’s wing of the party.
Outside politics, Sonayon-James has built a professional career in environmental, social and governance practice as well as sustainability consulting.
She obtained a degree in Business Management and Human Resources Management from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
She later earned a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialisation in Community Development from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
Her professional experience spans both public and private sectors.
She worked for six years at the Lagos Internal Revenue Service before moving into sustainability and risk management roles.
Her career later included serving as Head of Sustainability Risk and Strategy at Conrad Clark Nigeria as well as consulting engagements with Bolt Nigeria.
In 2020, she was part of a technical committee responsible for reviewing the Lagos State Youth Policy with the objective of aligning it with relevant United Nations standards on youth participation and inclusion.
According to the Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, the selection process that produced Sonayon-James involved extensive consultations and assessment of several criteria.
Ojelabi said factors considered included competence, leadership ability, grassroots acceptance, loyalty to the party and capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance.
He stated that her emergence reflected confidence in her record of service, organisational experience and commitment to the APC.
Political observers have also linked her nomination to broader considerations within Lagos politics.
Badagry stakeholders have for years advocated stronger representation in the state’s top leadership positions.
Her emergence therefore raises the possibility of producing the first indigene of the division to occupy the office of deputy governor.
Her age has also been viewed as significant amid increasing calls for younger Nigerians to play more prominent roles in governance and public administration.
The decision additionally sustains the long-standing tradition of female representation in Lagos State’s deputy governorship position.
As preparations intensify for the 2027 elections, the APC ticket presents a combination of administrative experience and grassroots political engagement.
While Hamzat brings years of executive experience in state governance, Sonayon-James enters the race with a blend of local political experience and private-sector expertise.
The months ahead are expected to test her ability to translate her grassroots network, policy experience and professional background into broader political appeal across Lagos State.
