Erelu Modupe Martins, a former Deputy Governorship candidate in Ondo State and past Woman Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who also served as Deputy Director, Special Duty II for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), has publicly denounced the recent unlawful termination of her appointment as a senior legislative aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This action, taken without formal explanation, violates the terms of her appointment and highlights a broader issue of gender inequality in Nigerian politics.
Erelu Martins expressed her deep disappointment, stating, “This kind of action coming from the exhaustive position of the Senate President is unwarranted. Public officers are expected to lead by example, yet this incident highlights the unfair treatment of women in political positions.”
She emphasized the disparity in treatment between men and women in politics, noting, “If it were a man, he is unlikely to be relieved of such a position without due process. My termination contravenes the outlined terms, which stipulate that I could only be dismissed for good cause, with one month’s notice or salary in lieu of notice.”
Erelu Martins confirmed that these procedural requirements were not followed in her case. She lamented the persistent misogynistic attitudes that women face in political offices in Nigeria, stating, “This must stop. I never anticipated becoming a victim of the very struggle I fought for as Women Leader in Ondo State.”
She further implicated Senator Jimoh Ibrahim in her unjust dismissal, branding him an ungrateful individual who benefited from her tireless mobilization efforts during his senatorial campaign. ‘It is well-known that Senator Ibrahim lacks electoral value,’ she stated. ‘He only managed to secure his Senate seat this time around due to the support of leaders like myself in Ondo State, who worked tirelessly to ensure his victory.'”
Erelu Martins pointed out that the reversal of her appointment was likely motivated by Ibrahim’s disappointment following his loss in the recent governorship election to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. In a politically charged environment, she emphasized her commitment to party unity, stating, “As a true progressive, I will always support the best interests of our state, even when it diverges from the ambitions of others.”
She firmly believes that if she were a man, she would not have faced such unjust treatment from the Senate President. “I worked diligently on the campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and deserve to be treated with respect as a dedicated member of the party,” she asserted.
Erelu Modupe Martins, who also served as the Director General (South) for the Ondo State APC Campaign, concluded her statement with a call to action: ‘My utmost concern is for the welfare of other women who may suffer similar injustices. I implore the Senate President to exercise caution when dealing with individuals like Jimoh Ibrahim, who consistently disregard established protocols and have a proven track record of betraying trust.'”