On Friday, scores of female protesters gathered at the All Progressives Congress (APC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele.
The protesters accused Alile-Idele of negligence, prioritizing personal interests, and misappropriating parts of a donation of 24,000 wrappers from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
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Carrying banners with messages such as “Enough is Enough,” “Mary Alile Resign Now,” and “APC Women Leader Must Go,” the protesters called on the First Lady and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to remove Alile-Idele for undermining female party members.
Dr. Mary Alile-Idele took over as the national women leader following the appointment of her predecessor, Dr. Betta Edu, as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation by President Bola Tinubu.
The demand for Alile-Idele’s resignation intensified two weeks after the First Lady, represented by Hajia Nana, wife of Vice President Kashim Shettima, presented bales of wrappers to Alile-Idele and state women leaders.
This presentation followed complaints that the president had neglected the women despite their support in his election victory.
Dr. Ganduje had urged the women leaders to distribute the fabrics fairly, but the protesters, led by Rebecca Sheneni, Coordinator of ‘Concerned APC Women,’ alleged that only 9,000 of the 24,000 wrappers were distributed.
Sheneni accused Alile-Idele of focusing more on only NGO’s agenda than on party matters, neglecting her responsibilities and engaging in political patronage.
“We, the Concerned APC Women Group, demand the immediate resignation of Mrs. Mary Alile-Idele, the National Women Leader of our party. She has shown incompetence and prioritizes her NGO over the party. The First Lady provided 24,000 wrappers, but only 9,000 were distributed. Where are the rest? How was someone with no political experience or party record chosen for this position? Her actions, including nominating her husband for a university governing council, show she prioritizes personal interests over the APC’s,” Sheneni stated.
However, Mrs. Patricia Okuebor-Benson, the women leader for Imo State, defended Alile-Idele, denying the allegations and claiming that all states had received their fabrics.
“I am hearing of this now. As I speak, the 36 state women leaders and the FCT are in Abuja having a meeting, and nobody has accused anyone of anything. I think somebody is sponsoring these women. Every state has received its fabrics,” Okuebor-Benson said.
When contacted, former Lagos lawmaker and women leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas declined to comment, stating she was not aware of the situation and was in Lagos for an important event.
“I am not in Abuja. I am in Lagos because of a very important program. So there is nothing I can say about it,” she said.
