Hundreds of aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a peaceful protest on Monday over the alleged refusal of party leaders to issue them membership cards despite completing their registration.
The protesters also accused some leaders within the party of plotting to impose candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the demonstrators, the delay in issuing membership cards is a deliberate move aimed at disenfranchising loyal members during the party’s primary elections.
The aggrieved members converged at the APC secretariat in Ijaye, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Give Us Our Membership Cards,” “We Don’t Want Imposition,” and “Let Us Vote for Our Candidates.”
The protest highlighted growing internal tensions within the ruling party as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Speaking during the protest, one of the demonstrators, Adesanya Akinbode, called on the party leadership to immediately release the membership cards to all registered members.
He argued that loyal party members should not be denied the opportunity to participate in the party’s internal democratic process.
“We want our membership cards because we want to vote. We have remained loyal APC members from the beginning. We are loyal supporters and political children of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun,” he said.
Akinbode stressed that obtaining the cards is crucial for members to exercise their voting rights during the forthcoming primaries.
“Give us our membership cards so that we can exercise our rights during the party primaries,” he added.
Another protester, Idowu Rodiat, condemned what she described as attempts by some party leaders to impose candidates on members.
She called for transparency, fairness, and adequate security during the conduct of primary elections.
“We don’t want imposition in our local government. We want free and fair primary elections, and we need adequate security during the process,” she said.
Rodiat insisted that members should be allowed to freely choose candidates for elective offices.
“We want to choose our leaders ourselves—our House of Representatives candidate, Senate candidate, and House of Assembly candidate. We do not want any leader imposing candidates on us,” she stated.
Reacting to the allegations, the Ogun State APC Publicity Secretary, Nuerudeen Adesanya Olufemi, denied claims that registered members were being denied access to their membership cards.
He explained that members are expected to print their cards directly through the party’s online registration platform.
According to him, designated ward officials have already been assigned to assist members with the process.
“What we expect is for registered members to access and print their membership cards directly. Each ward has contact persons responsible for handling registrations and assisting members,” he said.
Olufemi maintained that no member was being deliberately blocked from obtaining a membership card.
“Members can meet with their ward contact persons or simply log into the platform and print their cards themselves. So, I do not see how anyone can claim they are being denied access. Nobody is denying anybody,” he added.
The APC spokesman, however, acknowledged that some members may not have been adequately informed about the process.
He attributed the confusion to insufficient orientation at the ward level.
“What we need is proper orientation for ward chairmen and members on how to access and print their slips. The process is very easy. The state has absolutely nothing to do with denying anyone access,” Olufemi stated.
The protest comes amid increasing concerns over internal party democracy within major political parties as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Political analysts say disputes over membership registration and candidate selection processes often serve as early indicators of deeper factional struggles.
What You Should Know
Membership cards are critical in Nigeria’s party politics because they often determine eligibility to vote during party primaries.
Protests like this reflect broader concerns over internal democracy and fears of candidate imposition, which have historically triggered defections and legal disputes within political parties.
The Ogun APC protest suggests early tension over the 2027 election process and underscores how grassroots participation may shape internal party battles.
