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The 2027 gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has disclosed that he had no relationship with his running mate, Damilola Sonayon-James before her selection by the party.
He said he only got her phone number from a third party after she was selected as deputy governorship candidate.
Hamzat, who is the current Deputy Governor of the state, made this known during a public event in Ikoyi on Friday.
He said President Bola Tinubu had tasked the Lagos APC with finding his running mate after it was agreed that the position must be filled by a young woman.
Hamzat said he only provided the qualities he wanted in the right candidate and the party machinery went to work to find her.
He said, “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.’”
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Hamzat emphasised that he had never met Sonayon-James before her selection to work with him.
“Until Damilola was selected, I didn’t know her phone number. I got her phone number from somebody,” he said.
He noted that the zoning arrangement in Lagos was also considered in making the choice of deputy governorship candidate.
The candidate said that since he is from Lagos East, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu from Lagos Central, the deputy governorship candidate had to come from Lagos West.
Hamzat said Sonayon-James’ selection was merit-based.
He stated that the Badagry-born Sonayon-James is a grassroots politician who is “doing great things”.
The deputy governor encouraged young women to stay focused and not lose hope in Nigeria, which he said still offers opportunities to those that are committed to public service.
