DSJ leads cycling celebration in Badagry, urges youth participation in sports, governance

DSJ Joins Badagry's World Cycling Day Celebration

Princess Damilola Sonayon James, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Lagos State, on Thursday used the occasion of the 2026 World Cycling Day celebration in Badagry to promote youth engagement in sports and rally support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The event, which featured the reception of the Tour d'Afrique Cyclists by the Badagry Federation comprising Badagry Local Government, Olorunda LCDA and Badagry-West LCDA, attracted political leaders, community stakeholders and residents.

Speaking at the event, Princess Damilola Sonayon James described cycling as an important tool for promoting healthy living and youth development, urging young people to embrace sports and actively participate in governance. She also called on residents of Badagry and Lagos State to support the APC in the 2027 elections.

Physical fitness is very important, and I encourage our young people to embrace cycling and other sporting activities as a means of maintaining healthy living. I also urge them to participate actively in governance, politics and other areas of national development.

— Princess Damilola Sonayon James, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Lagos State

She appealed to party supporters to mobilise for the APC, particularly for Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat's governorship bid and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's second-term aspiration.

Tour d'Afrique Arrival Hailed as Milestone for Badagry

Earlier, the Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Hunpe Babatunde, welcomed the Deputy Governorship Candidate, council chairmen and other dignitaries to the event, describing the hosting of the Tour d'Afrique Cyclists as a significant milestone for the area and one with the potential to enhance Badagry's visibility and open up development opportunities for the federation.

The arrival and hosting of the Tour d'Afrique Cyclists is a positive development for Badagry. It marks a new milestone for our community and has the potential to attract greater attention and opportunities to the area.

— Hon. Hunpe Babatunde, Chairman, Badagry Local Government

Also speaking, Mrs. Arinola Ajose, widow of the late Governance Advisory Council, GAC, leader from Badagry, Sunny Ajose, said the event reflected one of her late husband's aspirations for the community. She expressed confidence that the late political leader would have been pleased with the development and prayed for the success of Princess Damilola Sonayon James, urging her to continue prioritising the interests of Badagry.

Party Leaders See DSJ's Rise as a Source of Pride for Badagry

An APC apex leader, Hon. Bamgbose, commended the initiative and described the Deputy Governorship Candidate's involvement as laudable, expressing optimism that her emergence would attract greater development to the Badagry Federation. Similarly, the Chairman of Badagry-West LCDA, Hon. Rauf Ibrahim, thanked God for the emergence of a Badagry indigene as Deputy Governorship Candidate of the state, noting that both he and Princess Damilola Sonayon James hail from the same LCDA and ward - a fact he described as a source of pride for the community and one that has raised expectations for improved development across the area.

The event concluded with the presentation of medals to participating cyclists and dignitaries, networking sessions and renewed calls for unity, youth engagement and the promotion of sports across the Badagry Federation.