Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a peaceful protest on Monday, demanding the issuance of membership cards they say were withheld despite having completed registration. The demonstrators also accused party officials of planning to impose candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The protest gathered at the APC secretariat in Ijaye, Abeokuta, where participants carried signs reading “Give Us Our Membership Cards,” “We Don’t Want Imposition,” and “Let Us Vote for Our Candidates.”
Among the speakers, Adesanya Akinbode urged the party to provide the cards without delay, insisting that loyal members deserve full participation in internal elections. “Give us our membership cards. We want to vote. We have been loyal APC members from the beginning. We are supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun. Let us exercise our right to vote,” he said.
Another protester, Idowu Rodiat, warned that the alleged imposition of candidates threatened the fairness of the upcoming primaries. “We don’t want imposition in our local government. We want a transparent primary election and security for that process. We want to choose our own leaders for the House of Representatives, Senate and State Assembly,” she declared.
In response, APC State Publicity Secretary Nuerudeen Olufemi denied that members were being denied cards. He explained that once registered, members can print their membership cards online and that each ward has a designated contact person to assist with the process. “Registered members should be able to access and print their cards directly. Ward officials have been tasked with helping them. I do not see how anyone can claim they are being denied access,” Olufemi said.
Olufemi attributed the confusion to inadequate orientation at the ward level, stressing that the state government had not blocked any member from obtaining a card. “We need to reach out to ward chairmen to provide proper guidance on printing the slips. It is a simple online procedure, and the state has nothing to do with denying anyone access,” he added.
The demonstration highlights internal tensions within the Ogun State APC as it prepares for the 2027 election cycle. While party officials emphasize procedural clarity, aggrieved members continue to demand tangible proof of their affiliation and a transparent primary process. The outcome of this dispute could influence voter sentiment and party cohesion ahead of the next electoral contests.
