By: Manoah Kikekon
BADAGRY, LAGOS — A powerful wave of political mobilization swept through the historic town of Badagry on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as influential women leaders and grassroots political stakeholders converged to declare total support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The political gathering, held at the Badagry Local Government Secretariat, served as a unified platform for women groups across three major councils—Badagry Local Government, Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and Badagry West LCDA—to endorse the joint APC ticket and celebrate the nomination of Badagry-born Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as the party's official Deputy Governorship Candidate.
Speaking at the well-attended gathering, Mrs. Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Hunpe, the wife of the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, highlighted the profound historical weight of the nomination. She noted that selecting Princess Sonayon-James is a crucial turning point that directly addresses the long-standing political underrepresentation of the Badagry division within the state’s executive council.
Mrs. Hunpe strongly challenged the regional coordinators to channel their enthusiasm into a coordinated voter turnout strategy:
“The emergence of Princess Damilola Sonayon-James represents a significant step toward addressing the long-standing political marginalization of Badagry within Lagos State’s governance structure. We must rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC governorship ticket, and all party candidates, because unity and commitment to the party will deepen political inclusion and accelerate development across the area.”
The Chief Convener of the solidarity event, Mrs. Arinola Sunny Ajose, offered an emotional tribute to the structural efforts that paved the way for this milestone. She expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC high command for listening to the yearnings of the border community.
Mrs. Ajose revealed that the nomination marks the ultimate realization of a political dream championed by her late husband, Chief Akinsanya Sunny Ajose, who spent years advocating for Badagry to occupy top-tier executive seats:
“This development reflects years of sustained advocacy for greater inclusion. My late husband strongly championed higher political recognition for Badagry before his passing. The emergence of Princess Sonayon-James stands as a historic milestone that would have brought him immense pride.”
Expanding on the operational layout of the upcoming campaign, Mrs. Folashade Kofoworola Ajose, wife of the Executive Chairman of Olorunda LCDA, categorized the nomination as a rare political honor. She highly praised First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her unwavering advocacy for female inclusion in national and state governance, urging party faithful to convert their appreciation into an overwhelming landslide victory at the polls.
Similarly, Mrs. Mariam Yemaren, wife of the Executive Chairman of Badagry West LCDA, described the ticket as a profound source of communal pride, emphasizing that "collective effort and sustained prayers" would remain the definitive keys to unlocking electoral success.
Reinforcing the need for structured campaign systems, Mrs. Bukola Bamgbose, wife of the APC Apex Leader in Badagry West, warned that political goodwill alone cannot win elections without active, continuous engagement:
“The immense political goodwill surrounding this nomination must be sustained through disciplined grassroots engagement and aggressive voter mobilization across every ward.”
The event concluded on a highly passionate note with a unanimous, formal endorsement of Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and all regional APC candidates, with the women leaders pledging an unbroken chain of field operations across the entire Badagry Federation.