Eti-Osa APC stakeholders seek Tinubu’s intervention over primaries
A coalition of party leaders, stakeholders, traditional institutions, youth and women groups, and residents of Eti-Osa Constituency I in Lagos State has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intervene over what they described as attempts to disregard the outcome of the party’s primary election in the constituency.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, the leader of the group, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, urged President Tinubu, the national leadership of the APC, and the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, to urgently intervene and address the unfolding situation surrounding the APC House of Assembly ticket for Eti-Osa Constituency I.
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Etim Ekpimah
A coalition of party leaders, stakeholders, traditional institutions, youth and women groups, and residents of Eti-Osa Constituency I in Lagos State has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intervene over what they described as attempts to disregard the outcome of the party’s primary election in the constituency.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, the leader of the group, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, urged President Tinubu, the national leadership of the APC, and the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, to urgently intervene and address the unfolding situation surrounding the APC House of Assembly ticket for Eti-Osa Constituency I.
Yisa called on the party leadership to ensure that the mandate given to the incumbent lawmaker, Noheem Adams, is respected.
According to the stakeholders, Adams emerged as the overwhelming choice of APC members during the primary election, defeating his closest rival, Saheed Bankole, by a wide margin.
Figures presented at the briefing showed that Adams secured 7,638 votes across the constituency’s wards, while Bankole polled 1,225 votes, giving the incumbent lawmaker a margin of 6,413 votes.
Describing the outcome as a clear reflection of the will of party members, the group said the result was decisive and undisputed.
“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 stakeholders stated.
The group further claimed that Adams enjoys broad support from traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth groups, community development associations, professional bodies and residents across the constituency.
They attributed his popularity to years of accessible leadership, community engagement, youth empowerment initiatives, educational support programmes, infrastructure advocacy and legislative effectiveness.
“The people know him, trust him and have repeatedly demonstrated confidence in him,” the group said.
The stakeholders, however, warned that any attempt to overturn the outcome of the primary election could trigger internal divisions within the party and weaken its electoral prospects.
They recalled developments leading up to the 2023 elections, arguing that decisions perceived to have gone against the wishes of party members contributed to internal crises and electoral setbacks in some areas.
According to them, ignoring the democratic choice of party members often leads to demoralisation among supporters, weakened grassroots structures and opportunities for opposition parties to gain political advantage.
Earlier, the group staged a protest at the Eleganza Toll Gate, calling on the Presidency and APC leadership to urgently restore Adams’ mandate.
Speaking during the protest, one of the stakeholders, Alhaji Surajudeen Abejamu, said the group gathered to demand the restoration of what they described as a stolen mandate.
“We are here on behalf of the votes we cast during the primary election for Honourable Noheem Babatunde Adams,” he said.
“He has been in the House since 2017 and is the only person who has worked tirelessly for us, especially during this dispensation.
“This is a man who has acted like a senator to us because we have another representative who never cared about us.
“He has always stood in for the government. Whenever we have problems and call on him, he responds.
“When you need government intervention, you contact him, and he comes through. There is hardly any challenge in this constituency where his impact has not been felt,” he added.
Another stakeholder, Lukman Abiodun, echoed similar sentiments.
“I am a leader here. We voted here, and Honourable Noheem won the primary election. Our movement is based on the fact that Honourable Noheem Adams was the people’s choice, and he won.
“We are calling the attention of President Bola Tinubu, the national chairman of our great party, APC, the Lagos State governor, and the state chairman of our party, Ojelabi, to consider our appeal and restore our mandate.
“Noheem Adams was voted for in Eti-Osa Constituency I, and he won the election. He is the people’s choice,” he said.
