Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Eti-Osa Constituency I have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the party’s national leadership to intervene in what they described as efforts to overturn the outcome of the constituency’s House of Assembly primary election, warning that any attempt to reverse the outcome of the election would affect the chances of the party in the 2027 general elections.
The
appeal was made on Thursday by a coalition of party leaders, traditional
institutions, youth and women groups, community organisations and residents,
who insisted that the incumbent lawmaker, Noheem Adams, won the primaries by a
decisive margin and should be recognised as the party’s candidate.
Addressing
a press conference, the leader of the group, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, called on
Tinubu, APC national leaders and the Lagos State APC chairman, Cornelius
Ojelabi, to ensure that the outcome of the primaries was respected.
According
to the stakeholders, Adams secured 7,638 votes across the constituency, while
his closest challenger, Saheed Bankole, polled 1,225 votes, giving the
incumbent a margin of 6,413 votes.
“The
will of the people was clearly expressed. This was not a narrow victory, and it
was not a disputed mandate. It was an overwhelming endorsement by party members
across Eti-Osa Constituency I,” the group said.
The
stakeholders described the result as a clear reflection of grassroots support
for Adams, whom they said had built strong ties across the constituency through
community engagement, youth empowerment initiatives, educational support
programmes and legislative representation.
“The
people know him, trust him and have repeatedly demonstrated confidence in him,”
they said.
The
group warned that any attempt to reverse the outcome of the primaries could
create divisions within the party and undermine its electoral prospects.
They
argued that decisions perceived as contrary to the wishes of party members had
contributed to internal crises and electoral setbacks in previous election
cycles.
According
to the stakeholders, disregarding the outcome of the primaries would risk
weakening grassroots structures and demoralising party supporters.
Earlier,
supporters of Adams staged a protest at the Eleganza Toll Gate, demanding that
the outcome of the primaries be upheld.
Speaking
during the demonstration, Alhaji Surajudeen Abejamu said the protest was aimed
at drawing attention to what he described as the denial of the mandate given to
Adams by party members.
“We
are here on behalf of the primary votes we cast for Nojeem Babatunde Adams.
“He
has been in the House since 2017, and he is the only person who has been
working assiduously, especially at this last dispensation.
“This
is a man who has acted like a senator to us. He has acted on behalf of the
government. When we have any problems, you always signal him; he is here.
“When
you are in need of the government, you signal him, and he will come. At all
times, there is nothing we have here as a problem that you don’t see his
impact,” he said.
Another
supporter, Lukman Abiodun, said the protest was intended to draw the attention
of party leaders to what he described as the wishes of voters in the
constituency.
“I am
a leader here. Here we voted, and Honourable Nojeem won his election.
“Our
movement is basing its call on the fact that Nojeem Adams was the people’s
choice and he won the primaries.
“We
are seeking and calling the attention of President Bola Tinubu. We are calling
on the national chairman of the great party, APC, and the Lagos State governor,
including the state chairman of our party, Ojelabi, to look into our requests,
to give us our mandates.
“Nojeem
Adams was being voted for in Etiosa 1, and he won the election. He’s the
people’s choice,” he said.
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