From Women Leader To Alausa — Meet 41 Year Old Damilola Sonayon-James, Lagos’ Deputy Governor Hopeful

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled Damilola Sonayon-James as the running mate to its 2027 Lagos governorship candidate, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, placing the 41-year-old politician and sustainability consultant at the centre of the state’s next electoral contest. Her emergence is significant beyond party politics. At 41, Sonayon-James represents a younger generation of leadership at a time when calls for greater youth inclusion in governance have become increasingly prominent. If elected, she would become one of the youngest deputy governors in Lagos‘ recent history and the first indigene of Badagry to occupy the office.

The Political Roots (From APC Women Leader to Running Mate)

Before she was nominated as a deputy governorship candidate, Sonayon-James served as the Lagos APC deputy woman leader, a role that elevated her profile within the party’s structure and earned her a reputation as an active grassroots mobiliser. Her political journey, however, began much closer to home. In Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), she served as supervisory councillor for agriculture and social services, where she was involved in community-focused programmes spanning agriculture, youth development, educational support, women’s empowerment and social welfare initiatives. 

Sonayon-James’ rise has not been without setbacks. She previously sought higher positions within local government politics, including a bid for the chairmanship of Badagry West LCDA, but remained active within the party and local administration after those attempts proved unsuccessful. Her selection also carries important political symbolism. A princess of the Kweme Kingdom and granddaughter of the late Oba Afolabi James, Sonayon-James combines political experience with deep roots in the Badagry division. Her emergence strengthens the APC’s efforts to broaden regional representation in Lagos, particularly in a division that has long sought greater visibility in the state’s top political offices

The Corporate Edge (Sustainability and ESG)

Beyond politics, Sonayon-James brings a professional background that distinguishes her from many traditional political figures. She is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) specialist and sustainability risk consultant with experience across both the public and private sectors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom and a master’s degree in Social Work with a specialisation in Community Development from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). Her professional career includes a stint at the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), after which she moved into sustainability and corporate governance roles. She has served as Head of Sustainability Risk and Strategy at Conrad Clark Nigeria and also worked as a consultant for Bolt Nigeria.

That background has exposed her to policy conversations around sustainable development, governance frameworks and social impact. Supporters argue that this blend of corporate and public-sector experience could influence her approach to governance, particularly in areas relating to youth inclusion, community development and long-term policy planning.

Continuing the “Lagos Tradition”

Sonayon-James’ nomination also fits within a longstanding political pattern in Lagos, where women have frequently occupied the office of deputy governor. If elected alongside Hamzat, she would join a lineage that includes notable female deputy governors such as Princess Sarah Sosan, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Idiat Adebule, continuing a tradition of female representation in the state’s executive leadership. 

Her candidacy additionally serves two strategic objectives for the APC. As a woman, she helps maintain the party’s commitment to gender inclusion within the state’s leadership structure. As a 41-year-old politician, she also brings a youthful dimension to the ticket, allowing the party to project a message of generational transition while retaining experienced leadership at the top of the ballot.

Damilola Sonayon-James’ journey from local government supervisor and APC women leader to deputy governorship candidate reflects a steady climb through both grassroots politics and professional leadership roles. Now positioned as Obafemi Hamzat’s running mate, she enters a new phase of her political career. The campaign ahead will test her ability to translate local popularity, party loyalty and corporate expertise into statewide appeal, while navigating the expectations that come with potentially becoming the first Badagry indigene to serve as Lagos deputy governor.