Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has formally presented his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the state, with Princess Damilola Sonayon-James named as his running mate.

Announcing the ticket on his verified X handle, Sanwo-Olu framed the choice as a deliberate effort to entrench continuity and deepen reforms that have shaped Lagos into Nigeria’s leading economic hub. He said the pair embodies the competence, stability, and inclusiveness the ruling party seeks to project ahead of the next governorship election.

Sanwo-Olu described Hamzat as a trusted technocrat and political ally whose years in public service have been central to the administration’s policy direction. Hamzat, an engineer and former commissioner, has served as deputy governor since 2019 and is widely regarded as one of the architects of Lagos’ infrastructure and technology-driven governance agenda.

According to the governor, Hamzat’s elevation from deputy to governorship candidate is a “passing of the baton to proven hands” and a signal that the APC intends to consolidate rather than disrupt existing programmes in transportation, urban renewal, and digital innovation.

Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, the deputy governorship candidate, is being positioned as the fresh face on the ticket, with Sanwo-Olu highlighting her background in sustainability, community engagement, and youth-focused initiatives. Party insiders say her selection is aimed at broadening the APC’s appeal among younger voters, women, and professionals who have increasingly demanded more inclusive representation in state politics.

Sanwo-Olu said the combination of Hamzat’s experience and Sonayon-James’ grassroots credentials reflects “the strength, diversity, and future” of Lagos, arguing that the duo has the capacity to “build on our achievements and move Lagos forward.”

He urged APC members, political stakeholders, and residents to rally behind the ticket, portraying the coming election as a referendum on the continuity of the current development blueprint. The governor framed support for Hamzat and Sonayon-James as support for a “Greater Lagos” vision anchored on economic expansion, improved public services, and social inclusion.

Hamzat secured the APC governorship ticket at the party’s primary held at the Lagos secretariat in Ogba, where he won an overwhelming majority of accredited votes, underscoring his dominance within the party structure and the leadership’s confidence in his candidacy.