‘Break My Door If I Deny You Access,’ Lagos APC Deputy Governorship Candidate Tells Youths

Princess Sonayon-James urges young people to demand accountability, says Hamzat ticket represents opportunity for generational leadership

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The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship Candidate, Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, has challenged young people to hold political leaders accountable, declaring that they should “break my door down” if she denies them access.

Sonayon-James made the declaration at the official launch of KOHtinuity and the inauguration of its campaign secretariat in GRA, Ikeja, where she urged youths to take ownership of the political mandate she shares with the APC governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.

She described the mandate as a collective responsibility that transcends individual political ambitions, insisting that young people must have a voice in shaping the future of Lagos State.

“This is a mandate I can’t own by myself. It’s a collective mandate of young people, a collective mandate that we owe to the next generation,” she said.

The deputy governorship candidate urged young people to actively participate in governance and demand access to political office holders, stressing that leadership must remain accountable to the people.

“If I don’t open my door, you need to break it down. It is not about Damilola; it’s about the future of Lagos. If I don’t give you access, call for me, call me out,” she declared.

She described her partnership with Hamzat as an opportunity to promote cross-generational leadership, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had presented Lagos with an experienced leader willing to invest in the next generation.

Sonayon-James expressed optimism that the leadership transition being championed in Lagos could inspire similar developments across Nigeria’s 36 states by 2031.

Earlier, one of KOHtinuity’s conveners, Oluwatoyin Atanda Rufai, said the initiative was established six months ago by a group of Senior Special Assistants to the Lagos State Governor to mobilise young people across the state’s five IBILE divisions — Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe — in support of the APC and its governorship ticket.

Rufai explained that the platform was designed to sustain the Lagos development agenda while bridging the gap between government policies and young people.

She said the initiative seeks to transform youths from passive observers into active participants in governance and political development.

As part of its activities, KOHtinuity has established a campaign secretariat in GRA, Ikeja, and a digital war room to monitor public conversations, track public sentiment and respond to misinformation.

Other initiatives include a multilingual campaign platform designed to communicate in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Pidgin, as well as a social documentary series tagged KOH Revealed.

The platform has also established the IBILE Network, comprising 200 young leaders drawn from different parts of Lagos State.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Lagos State PBAT-KOH Campaign, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who was represented by Mr Abiodun Bamgboye, commended the organisers for their digital engagement strategy.

Bamgboye said he had taken note of the issues raised during the event and would brief the campaign director-general.

He described the digital platforms unveiled by the group as evidence of its technological capacity and encouraged the organisers to sustain the initiative.

In his remarks, the Lagos State APC Youth Leader, Hon. Damilare Orimoloye, assured young people that the party’s engagement with them would continue beyond the electioneering period.

He said the APC youth structure would pursue inclusive and sustainable programmes capable of creating lasting benefits for young people.

Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Local Government and Rural Development, Durojaiye Babatunde, said the KOHtinuity secretariat was established to galvanise support for Hamzat’s governorship ambition.

Speaking in an interview at the event, Babatunde explained that the digital war room would monitor public conversations, identify false narratives, verify information and disseminate accurate details about the campaign and its proposed PROMISE Manifesto.

He encouraged young people to remain committed to their aspirations, noting that their efforts and participation today could create opportunities for them in the future.

The event also featured discussions on the PROMISE Manifesto, particularly its implications for young people and women in Lagos State.