Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Eti-Osa Constituency I, Lagos State, have called on the party leadership to restore the party’s ticket to Hon. Noheem Adams, whom they said emerged from the APC primary election held on May 20, 2026.
The stakeholders made the demand at a world press conference in Lagos, insisting that the outcome of the primary, which they described as a strong expression of the will of party members, should be upheld.
According to the group, Adams polled 7,638 votes against his opponent’s 1,225 votes, describing the margin as evidence of his widespread acceptance among APC members in the constituency.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, the Apex Leader of Eti-Osa, Jacob Jegede, said their demand was not driven by personal ambition, hatred or opposition to any individual, but by their commitment to internal democracy, fairness, party unity and the electoral prospects of the APC.
Jegede said the controversy was bigger than any individual, stressing that it concerned the credibility of the party’s internal electoral process.
“The issue before us is therefore bigger than one individual. It is about the sanctity of the electoral process within our party. It is about respecting the people who participated in the primary. It is about fairness. It is about justice. And ultimately, it is about the electoral strength of the APC in Eti-Osa Constituency I.”
He described Adams as a grassroots politician with strong relationships across communities and wards in the constituency, saying his support cuts across age groups, religious affiliations and social backgrounds.
The stakeholders appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, to uphold fairness and address the concerns raised by party members in Eti-Osa.
They also urged the party leadership to consider the recommendations of the Reconciliation Committee, which they claimed recognised the importance of restoring the ticket to Adams as part of efforts to promote unity and strengthen the APC’s chances in the forthcoming election.
The group argued that genuine reconciliation should address the underlying causes of the disagreement rather than simply asking aggrieved members to accept what they consider an unjust outcome.
“We want the APC to win. We are not here to weaken our party. We are here because we want to strengthen it. We are not here to create division. We are here because we believe that justice and fairness are the foundation upon which genuine unity can be built,” Jegede said.
The stakeholders further warned that imposing a candidate without sufficient support among party members and the wider electorate could affect the APC’s performance at the polls.
They maintained that grassroots acceptance, popularity and electability should be key considerations in determining the party’s candidate.
Consequently, they demanded that the APC leadership uphold the May 20 primary election, restore the ticket to Adams, implement the recommendations of the Reconciliation Committee and engage genuine grassroots stakeholders in resolving the dispute.
The group also appealed to APC members in the constituency to remain calm and shun violence, intimidation, insults and personal attacks, urging all parties to pursue dialogue and legitimate party channels.
Reaffirming their loyalty to the APC, the stakeholders said their position should not be interpreted as a rejection of the party but as a call for the party to uphold its democratic principles.
“Let the mandate of the people prevail. Let justice prevail. Let internal democracy prevail. Let unity prevail. And ultimately, let the APC win,” the stakeholders said.
