Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Obafemi Hamzat, has disclosed that he had no prior relationship with his running mate, Damilola Sonayon-James, before the party selected her as its deputy governorship candidate.
Hamzat made the revelation on Thursday during the public presentation of Who Is She? at the Syrian Club Event Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he spoke about the process that led to Sonayon-James’ emergence.
The deputy governor explained that although he had clearly stated the qualities he wanted in a running mate, including gender and age considerations, he had never met Sonayon-James before her nomination.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu handed the responsibility of selecting the deputy governorship candidate back to the party after approving his proposal that the position should go to a young woman.
“The President called me and said, ‘You guys go and sort it out.’ I said, ‘Sir, I think it should be a female.’ He said, ‘It’s okay.’ I said, ‘It should be young.’ He said, ‘It’s okay,’” Hamzat recalled.
He added that political zoning considerations within Lagos also influenced the selection process.
Hamzat noted that since he is from Lagos East and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who currently occupies the governorship seat, is from Lagos Central, the deputy governorship candidate was expected to emerge from Lagos West.
Despite eventually becoming his running mate, Hamzat said Sonayon-James was previously unknown to him.
“Until Damilola was elected, I didn’t know her phone number. I got her phone number from somebody,” he said.
The APC governorship candidate, however, defended her nomination, describing Sonayon-James as a grassroots politician with a strong commitment to community development and public service.
“The important thing is that she’s been very active in the community. She’s been doing great things,” he said.
Hamzat also urged young women to remain optimistic about Nigeria’s future, saying opportunities exist for those willing to contribute positively to society.
Earlier, the Lagos APC officially presented Sonayon-James, who serves as the party’s Deputy Woman Leader, as Hamzat’s running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The party said her emergence followed consultations and a detailed selection process, highlighting her competence, grassroots connection, loyalty to the APC and leadership experience.
