BREAKING: Protest in Abuja, APC Women Demand Immediate Resignation of National Women Leader!

Scores of female protesters stormed the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Friday to demand the resignation of the National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele. The protesters accused Alile-Idele of negligence, prioritizing personal interests, and allegedly diverting parts of the 24,000 wrappers donated by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and her delegation during a visit to the party secretariat.

The demonstrators, singing solidarity songs and displaying several banners with messages such as ‘Enough is Enough!’, ‘Mary Alile Resign Now’, and ‘APC Women Leader Must Go’, appealed to the First Lady and the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to remove Alile-Idele. They claimed she continually undermines the female members of the party.

Alile-Idele became the substantive National Women Leader after her predecessor, Dr. Betta Edu, was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (currently suspended) by President Bola Tinubu. 

The agitation for her removal follows barely two weeks after the First Lady, represented by Hajia Nana, the wife of Vice President Kashim Shettima, presented bales of wrappers to Alile-Idele and her state women leaders. This donation was in response to their outcry the previous week, claiming they had been abandoned by the president despite their contributions to his election victory.

Following the donation, Ganduje had warned that the women leaders should distribute the fabrics judiciously. However, the protesters, led by Rebecca Sheneni, Coordinator of ‘Concerned APC Women’, alleged that only 9,000 out of the 24,000 fabrics were shared. Sheneni claimed that Ganduje seemed to have had a premonition of what would happen, given his prior warning about the distribution of the wrappers.

Sheneni, a North Central APC member, further alleged that instead of pursuing a common cause for their benefit, the national women leader has been traveling across the country to promote the agenda of a pet project through her non-governmental organization (NGO). 

She said, “We, the Concerned APC Women Group, an umbrella body for all female members of the governing APC, deem it necessary and imperative to demand the immediate resignation of Mrs. Mary Alile-Idele, the National Women Leader of our party. We are concerned that since assuming office, Mrs. Mary Alile-Idele has displayed incompetence in her role. She appears to be more focused on promoting her NGO rather than the party. This is evident in her recent travels to various states to inaugurate her NGO’s executives, instead of promoting the agenda and manifesto of our party to Nigerian women.”

“Furthermore, Her Excellency the First Lady provided her with over 24,000 wrappers to distribute to women leaders and party members, but she only distributed less than 9,000. Where are the rest? We wonder how a UK-based person with no political experience and no record of membership in our party could be considered for this exalted position. She prioritizes her personal interests over those of the APC, leading to the nomination of her husband for appointment as a member of the University of Port Harcourt Governing Council and various party assignments. Considering her numerous misdeeds and misconduct, we call for her immediate removal from the position of the APC. She has demonstrated a high level of incompetence and we have had enough.”

Efforts to get the APC national women leader to react to the allegations proved abortive. As of the time of filing this story, she has not picked up calls or responded to SMS and WhatsApp messages sent for clarification.

However, the women leader for Imo State, Mrs. Patricia Okuebor-Benson, rose to Alile-Idele’s defense, saying the allegations were not true. According to her, virtually all their members across the various states have received their fabrics.

She said, “I am just hearing of this now because nobody told me before. As I speak, the 36 state women leaders and the FCT are in Abuja having a meeting and nobody has accused anybody of anything. We don’t know where these women are getting their stories from. I believe every state has received its fabrics. I really don’t know what they are talking about. I think somebody is sponsoring them.”

When contacted, a former lawmaker and women leader in Lagos, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, declined to comment, saying she wasn’t aware of the development and couldn’t speak for any of her principals.

“As you can see, I am not in Abuja. I am in Lagos because there is a very important programme that I have to attend. So, there is nothing I can say about it,” she pleaded.

The ongoing protest and demand for the resignation of Dr. Mary Alile-Idele highlight underlying tensions within the APC’s women wing. The allegations of mismanagement and negligence, coupled with the accusations of promoting personal interests over party agendas, have created a significant rift. The call for Alile-Idele’s resignation is a critical moment for the APC, as it seeks to address these internal conflicts and restore unity and trust among its female members.

The protest is not only about the alleged mismanagement of the wrappers but also reflects broader concerns about leadership and representation within the party. The dissatisfaction expressed by the women protesters indicates a need for more transparency and accountability from their leaders. The APC leadership will need to address these grievances comprehensively to prevent further discord and maintain the support of its female members.

The involvement of high-profile figures such as the First Lady and the National Chairman in this controversy underscores its significance. Their responses and actions will be closely watched, as they will play a crucial role in resolving this issue. The situation also draws attention to the broader challenges of governance and leadership within political parties, highlighting the importance of effective management and accountability at all levels.

In conclusion, the protest by the APC women and their demand for the resignation of Dr. Mary Alile-Idele is a significant development that requires careful handling by the party’s leadership. Addressing the allegations and ensuring fair distribution of resources will be essential in restoring trust and unity within the party’s women wing. The outcome of this situation will likely have broader implications for the party’s reputation and internal cohesion.