Hundreds of female members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House in Marina, calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in what they described as a flawed local government primary in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA.
The women, representing various interest groups within the ruling party, submitted formal petitions addressed to both Governor Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu, demanding the cancellation of the May 10, 2025, primary election that produced Abiodun Ejigbadero as the party’s chairmanship candidate for the July 12 council polls.
In a petition jointly signed by the APC LGA Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Funmilayo Odelabi, and the Woman Leader, Mrs. Mary Ishola, the protesters alleged that the selection process lacked transparency and fairness. Titled “Re: Wrongful selection of Abiodun Ejigbadero or Ishola as the APC candidate for local government election Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA,” the letter accused party officials of conducting a secretive exercise at the Lagos APC secretariat.
The petition claimed that neither delegates nor aspirants were allowed access to the proceedings.
“The primary exercise that produced Ejigbadero was the most secretive and unusual primary election ever conducted at the State Party Secretariat on 10th May, 2025, where delegates, aspirants, and their agents were barred from observing the election process,” the petition stated.
The women also questioned Ejigbadero’s affiliation with the APC in Agbado/Oke-Odo, alleging that he is not a recognized member of the local chapter. They warned that the imposition of candidates without due process could damage the party’s democratic credentials.
“In light of the foregoing, Sir, we request the outright cancellation of the hideous and shameful caricature of elections that is capable of casting serious doubts on the ideals of justice and fairness that you have always stood up for as our leader and mentor,” the petition read.
“We appeal to you to compel the Primary Elections Committee to announce the true result of the election or conduct a fresh election in the full glare of all relevant stakeholders.
“Please also find attached a list of fourteen accredited delegates who participated in the supposed 24-man delegate election process.”
Reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu, the petitioners expressed hope that his leadership would halt what they called a deliberate attempt to sideline committed party members.
“Our Asiwaju, we have always believed in you, and we remain your followers. We are not in doubt that you remain the one man who can forestall the ongoing attempt to freeze out a majority of party members from a system we have served with utmost loyalty and for which we have never faltered,” it added.
The protest comes days after residents of the Oki community in the LCDA held a similar demonstration, also rejecting Ejigbadero’s candidacy and urging the party to uphold internal democracy ahead of the local government elections.
