Lagos — Hundreds of female members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House, Marina, on Thursday, calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to nullify what they described as a flawed local government primary election in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The women, representing various interest groups within the party, submitted petitions to both Governor Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging immediate action over the May 10, 2025, primary that produced Abiodun Ejigbadero as the APC chairmanship candidate for the upcoming July 12 council polls.
In a petition jointly signed by Mrs. Funmilayo Odelabi, Vice Chairperson of the APC in Agbado/Oke-Odo, and Woman Leader, Mrs. Mary Ishola, the protesters alleged that the selection process lacked transparency, fairness, and due party procedure.
Titled “Re: Wrongful selection of Abiodun Ejigbadero or Ishola as the APC candidate for local government election Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA,” the petition accused party officials of conducting a secretive primary election at the Lagos APC Secretariat, excluding delegates, aspirants, and their agents from observing the process.
“The primary exercise that produced Ejigbadero was the most secretive and unusual ever conducted at the State Party Secretariat. Delegates, aspirants, and their agents were barred from witnessing the process,” the petition read.
The women further questioned Ejigbadero’s legitimacy as a member of the local APC chapter, describing his emergence as an imposition that undermines the party’s democratic values.
They warned that failure to address the issue could damage the party’s credibility ahead of the local government elections.
“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 stated.
The petitioners urged the Primary Elections Committee to either announce the authentic results or conduct a fresh and transparent primary involving all relevant stakeholders. A list of fourteen accredited delegates was also attached as part of the petition.
Reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu, the women appealed for his intervention, stating: “Our Asiwaju, we have always believed in you… You remain the one man who can forestall the ongoing attempt to freeze out a majority of party members.”
Thursday’s protest follows a similar demonstration by residents of the Oki community within the LCDA, who also rejected Ejigbadero’s candidacy and called on the party to uphold internal democracy.
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