APC Women Storm Lagos State House, Demand Cancellation of Agbado/Oke-Odo LG Primary
Hundreds of female members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a peaceful protest on Thursday at the Lagos State House in Marina, demanding the immediate cancellation of the recent local government primary election in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The women accused the party leadership of orchestrating a flawed and exclusionary process.
The demonstrators, representing various factions and support groups within the APC, called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently investigate what they described as a “sham election” conducted on May 10, 2025. According to the protesters, the primary that produced Abiodun Ejigbadero as the party’s chairmanship candidate lacked transparency, credibility, and proper democratic procedures.
In a jointly signed petition addressed to Governor Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC LGA Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Funmilayo Odelabi, and Woman Leader, Mrs. Mary Ishola, alleged that the election was conducted secretly at the Lagos APC Secretariat. They claimed delegates, aspirants, and agents were denied access to the process, making it impossible to verify the legitimacy of the outcome.
“The primary exercise that produced Ejigbadero was the most secretive and unusual ever conducted at the state party secretariat. Delegates and aspirants were barred from observing the process, which is entirely unacceptable in a democratic setting,” the petition read.
Further raising eyebrows, the petitioners also questioned Ejigbadero’s affiliation with the APC in Agbado/Oke-Odo. They claimed he is not recognized as a legitimate member of the local chapter and expressed concern about an attempt by party elites to impose him on the people.
“We are deeply concerned that the candidate being imposed does not have any known political roots within our LCDA. This undermines our efforts and commitment as grassroots mobilizers.”
The women urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to compel the party’s Primary Elections Committee to either announce the authentic election results or organize a fresh, transparent primary in the presence of all stakeholders.
“We request the outright cancellation of this hideous and shameful caricature of elections. The credibility of our great party is at stake, and we appeal to your Excellency to uphold the ideals of justice and fairness.”
Despite their grievances, the protesters reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene in the matter to protect the party’s democratic image.
“Our Asiwaju, we have always believed in your vision. We trust that you will not allow a few individuals to destroy the credibility of the democratic process you helped establish,” the petition concluded.
Thursday’s protest follows a similar demonstration by residents of the Oki community within the Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, who also rejected Ejigbadero’s candidacy. The protests reflect growing unrest within the APC ranks over what many describe as a pattern of imposition and disregard for grassroots voices ahead of the July 12 local government elections.
The party leadership has yet to issue an official response to the protests.
