By Lukman Olabiyi
Female members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have demanded the cancellation of the recent local government primary election.
Led by prominent women leaders, they protested at the Lagos State House in Marina and submitted petitions to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for urgent action against what they described as a fraudulent and secretive selection process.
The controversy centres on the selection of Abiodun Ejigbadero, allegedly presented as Ishola Jimoh, as the APC candidate for the upcoming local government election on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
In a petition signed by Mrs Funmilayo Odelabi, the LGA Vice Chairperson, and Mrs Mary Ishola, the LGA Woman Leader, the women accused the party leadership of imposing a non-member on the constituency through an opaque primary held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the State Party Secretariat. Delegates, aspirants, and their agents were barred from observing the process.
“The process was the most secretive and unusual we have ever witnessed,” the petition states. “To further compound the issue, the candidate’s real identity was hidden, with party documents listing him as Ishola Jimoh instead of Abiodun Ejigbadero, a name long associated with controversy and negative public attention.”
The women provided disclaimers and petitions from ward and LGA executive members, denying Ejigbadero’s membership in the LCDA’s APC. They argued that the selection violates the party’s principles of transparency, integrity, and democratic representation.
“Is this the kind of individual who reflects the values of our great party?” the petition asks. “We demand the immediate cancellation of the charade that was passed off as a primary election, or the announcement of the actual results as voted by the accredited delegates.”
The group also submitted a list of 14 accredited delegates from a 24-member delegate election, claiming the process was manipulated to favour a pre-selected candidate. This protest follows a similar demonstration by Oki community stakeholders earlier in the week, also rejecting Ejigbadero’s candidacy.
“We have never lost an election in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA and do not intend to start now,” the women stressed, reaffirming their loyalty to the APC and President Tinubu. “But we need justice and fairness if we are to continue delivering victory.”