A group of All Progressives Congress, APC, members and political support organisations in Eti-Osa Constituency I, Lagos State, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the party’s leadership to intervene in the controversy surrounding the APC ticket for the Lagos State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 elections.
The appeal follows the release of the party’s official list of candidates for the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly polls, which named Saheed Bankole as the APC candidate for Eti-Osa Constituency I.
The development has generated discontent among supporters of the incumbent lawmaker and Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Noheem Adams, who insist that he emerged victorious in the constituency primary election.
According to the results announced after the primary conducted in Ajah, Adams secured 7,638 votes, while Bankole polled 1,225 votes. Election officials subsequently declared Adams the winner of the exercise held across the constituency’s wards.
However, when the APC published its final list of candidates on May 25, Bankole was listed as the party’s flagbearer for the constituency, sparking protests among party loyalists and community stakeholders.
Expressing their dissatisfaction during a demonstration at the Second Toll Gate area of Lekki on Thursday, members of the Noheem Adams Support Group, alongside party faithful, youth organisations, women groups and community leaders, called on the party to respect the outcome of the primary election.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Owolabi Yisa urged the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Lagos State APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, to ensure that the mandate freely given by party members is protected.
He argued that the wide margin recorded in the primary reflected the overwhelming preference of party members for Adams and warned that any attempt to overturn the result could create unnecessary divisions within the party.
According to the stakeholders, Adams enjoys broad support among party elders, traditional institutions, market associations, youth groups and residents across the constituency due to his performance in office, empowerment initiatives and sustained engagement with constituents.
“The will of party members was clearly demonstrated during the primary election. This was not a marginal victory or a disputed contest; it was a decisive endorsement of Hon. Noheem Adams by APC members across the constituency,” Yisa said.
The protesters cautioned that disregarding the outcome of the exercise could undermine party unity and discourage grassroots supporters who participated in the democratic process.
They also appealed directly to President Tinubu to intervene in the matter and ensure that the principles of fairness, justice and internal democracy are upheld.
Amid the growing controversy, Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, maintained that the candidates’ list already published by the party remains the official record of the primaries.
Ojelabi explained that the state chapter merely released the results submitted by the committee appointed by the APC national leadership and had no authority to alter or manipulate the outcome.
“The state chapter only published the outcome of the primaries conducted by the committee constituted by the national headquarters,” he said.
He insisted that the list remains valid despite objections from some stakeholders.
Nevertheless, the aggrieved party members urged the APC leadership to revisit the issue, arguing that respecting the wishes of party members would strengthen unity and confidence in the party’s internal processes.
While reaffirming their loyalty to the APC and the administration of President Tinubu, the protesters maintained that lasting cohesion within the party can only be achieved through transparency, fairness and respect for democratic decisions.
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