Jun 11, 2026

Sanwo-Olu Passes Baton to Hamzat-Sonayon-James Ticket for Greater Lagos Future

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

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Lagos, Nigeria – June 11, 2026 – In a move underscoring continuity, competence, and generational renewal, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has thrown his full weight behind Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election, paired with Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as his running mate.

The announcement, shared via the governor’s official X account this morning, frames the decision as a deliberate act of “sustainable governance”—the true test being the ability to entrust leadership to “proven hands guided by minds that see the future clearly.”

Accompanied by a formal group photograph of the key figures, the statement highlights unity, diversity, and a shared vision for Africa’s largest city.

Governor Sanwo-Olu praised his long-serving deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as a “dedicated public servant, dependable partner in governance, and steadfast advocate for progress.”

Hamzat, an engineer and technocrat by training with decades in public service—including roles as Commissioner for Science and technology—has been instrumental in Lagos’ digital transformation, infrastructure projects, and economic initiatives since 2019.

His emergence as the APC’s consensus candidate earlier this year, endorsed by party structures including the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and President Bola Tinubu, positions him as the clear frontrunner to succeed Sanwo-Olu, who is completing his second and final term.

Joining Hamzat is Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, a dynamic figure whose selection brings fresh energy, gender balance, youth appeal, and regional representation from Lagos West (Badagry).

At around 41 years old, she represents a “youth o’clock” dimension in Lagos politics.

A sustainability professional, ESG expert, grassroots mobilizer, and Assistant State Woman Leader (elevated to Deputy Woman Leader) of the APC in Lagos, Sonayon-James hails from the royal family of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry West.

Her background includes a Master’s in Social Work, business and HR management training in the UK, leadership in community development, women’s empowerment, and private sector experience in logistics and consulting.

Sanwo-Olu described the ticket as one that “reflects the strength, diversity, and future of our great state,” emphasizing their combined experience, competence, and energy to build on existing achievements

This announcement comes amid Lagos’ ongoing transformation into a global economic powerhouse.

Recent highlights under the Sanwo-Olu administration include the launch of West Africa’s first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility and high-profile investment summits like Invest Lagos 3.0, attracting governors and stakeholders eager to tap into the state’s potential.

For Lagosians—estimated at over 20 million—the ticket signals continuity in progressive governance while injecting new perspectives on sustainability, youth inclusion, and grassroots connectivity.

Supporters, including party faithful across Lagos East, West, and Central, have responded with enthusiasm, chanting “Eko O Ni Baje” (Lagos will not fall) and celebrating the balance between proven leadership and emerging voices from Badagry.

Critics and observers may question specifics on addressing pressing urban challenges—waste management, traffic, housing affordability, and equitable service delivery for ordinary residents.

Some online reactions already probe how the duo will translate experience into tangible improvements in daily life.

Yet the orderly, consensus-driven process within the APC stands in contrast to more fractious past cycles, potentially strengthening party cohesion ahead of the polls.

As a journalist who has covered Lagos politics for decades, this moment feels both evolutionary and symbolic. Sanwo-Olu’s graceful exit from the ticket—focusing on legacy-building rather than clinging to power—reinforces democratic norms in a state often defined by high-stakes power plays. The inclusion of a royal princess with strong sustainability and community credentials adds a humanizing, inclusive layer to the narrative of technocratic governance.

Whether this team can navigate Lagos’ complex realities—ethnic diversity, economic pressures, infrastructure demands, and the expectations of a youthful, ambitious population—remains the ultimate test.

For now, the baton has been passed with clarity and confidence. Lagosians will judge the results not by promises, but by outcomes in the years ahead.

The 2027 election promises to be a referendum on the “Greater Lagos Rising” vision.

With Hamzat and Sonayon-James at the helm of the APC ticket, the stage is set for a contest that could shape the megacity’s trajectory for generations.