KINGSLEY EBERE
The ambition of Prince Nixon Okwara to contest for the House of Representatives, Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 2 in 2027 has received a major boost from Ndigbo stakeholders in Lagos.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Ndigbo stakeholders demanded political inclusion, urging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to cede the House of Representatives tickets for Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, and Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituencies to candidates of Igbo extraction.
The demand was made during a meeting held on Friday, 23rd April 2026, at the Igbo Community Center, Okota, Lagos, convened by Dr. Joseph Achuba.
The meeting, attended by critical stakeholders, issued the following communiqué:
“We, the Ndigbo Stakeholders in Lagos, comprising community leaders, professionals, youth leaders, women leaders, and residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, and Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituencies, met on Friday, 23rd April 2026, to deliberate on the political inclusion of Ndigbo in Lagos State and hereby issue this communiqué to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observations:
1. Decades of Exclusion: For decades, the APC has not considered any Igbo son or daughter for its Federal House of Representatives ticket in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, and Oshodi-Isolo, despite Ndigbo being a significant voting bloc, tax base, and economic driver in these constituencies.
2. Wrong Message to Ndig: This continued denial sends a negative message that Igbo loyalty and contributions are taken for granted. Many now interpret it as deliberate neglect, if not outright hostility, from the party structure.
3. Threat to Unity: Political exclusion weakens national cohesion, breeds voter apathy, and creates suspicion that is unhealthy for Lagos and Nigeria.
Resolutions:
Arising from the above, we resolve as follows:
1. That the APC National Working Committee, APC Lagos State Chapter, and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) should, in the interest of justice, equity, and national unity, cede the 2027 House of Representatives tickets for Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, and Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituencies to credible and competent Igbo candidates within the party.
2. That ceding these positions will dispel doubts of ethnic bias, demonstrate that the APC is truly national, and deepen the relationship, trust, and commitment of Ndigbo to the party and its government.
3. That this request is not a plea for tokenism but a demand for fairness. There are thousands of qualified Igbo APC members in these constituencies with the capacity to win elections and provide inclusive representation for all residents.
4. That Ndigbo in these areas have consistently voted for the APC in presidential, gubernatorial, and state assembly elections. Political reciprocity is a tenet of democracy: “Nothing for us, without us.”
5. That the APC should align with *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda* by practising inclusion. Lagos, as the Centre of Excellence, must set the pace in detribalized politics.
6. That continued exclusion will further alienate a major voting population and strengthen narratives of marginalization, which are inimical to the APC’s future in cosmopolitan Lagos.”
The communiqué was copied to the following:
1. The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress
2. The Chairman, APC Lagos State Chapter
3. The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State
4. The Press
