A major political crisis is brewing within the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a massive coalition of party stakeholders from Eti-Osa Constituency I has launched an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s national leadership to protect the democratic mandate of incumbent lawmaker, Noheem Adams.
The appeal follows growing anxiety over an alleged plot by certain forces to overturn and disregard the outcome of the party’s primary election in the constituency.
Speaking at a packed press briefing, the leader of the coalition, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, called on President Tinubu, the national leadership of the APC and the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, to urgently intervene and redress the unfolding situation.
According to figures presented by the stakeholders, the primary election was anything but close. Noheem Adams secured a landslide victory, polling 7,638 votes across the constituency’s wards. His closest rival, Saheed Bankole, managed only 1,225 votes, leaving Adams with a staggering victory margin of 6,413 votes.
“The will of the people was clearly expressed,” the stakeholders declared in a joint statement. “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 brewing tension spilled onto the streets before the press briefing, as hundreds of aggrieved party members, youth groups and women associations staged a peaceful protest at the Eleganza Toll Gate, demanding the immediate restoration of what they termed a stolen mandate.
Alhaji Surajudeen Abejamu, a prominent member of the group, expressed the frustration of the grassroots voters.
“We are here on behalf of the primary election votes we cast for Honorable Nojeem Babatunde Adams,” Abejamu said. “He has been in the House since 2017 and he is the only person who has been working assiduously. This is a man who has acted like a senator to us. When we have any problems, you always signal him and he is here. At all times, there is nothing he has not been doing.”
Another party leader, Lukman Abiodun, echoed the sentiment, stressing that the movement is entirely about defending democratic choices.
“Our movement is basing its call on the fact that Nojeem Adams was the people’s choice and he won the primary. We are calling on the national chairman of our great party, the Lagos State Governor, and the state chairman to look into our requests and give us our mandate.”
Beyond the immediate ticket, the stakeholders warned that subverting the will of the people could have catastrophic consequences for the APC in future general elections.
The coalition reminded party leadership of the internal crises and electoral setbacks suffered in parts of Lagos during the 2023 elections, attributing those losses to decisions that ignored the wishes of party members.
They noted that discarding a candidate who enjoys the backing of traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations and community development associations will only open the door wide for opposition parties to gain an advantage.
The stakeholders maintained that Adams’ popularity is rooted in years of accessible leadership, youth empowerment, educational support programs and effective legislative advocacy.
They called on President Tinubu the ultimate leader of the party to step in, uphold the primary results and shield Eti-Osa from an avoidable internal crisis.
