Balogun Market: Stakeholders Reject November 17 Election, Demand February 2027 Poll

By Lawrence Dike

A fresh dispute over the leadership and electoral process of the Balogun Business Association (BBA), Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, has divided the market’s leadership, with former executives, elders and a coalition of traders rejecting the November 17, 2026, election announced by the incumbent President, Chief Oscar Paul Ikechukwu Odogwu.

The opposing stakeholders, including the market’s founder, Hon. Leonard Ogbonna, former presidents, Board of Trustees members and other prominent traders, insist that the proposed election violates the association’s constitution. They are demanding that the poll be moved to February 28, 2027, after the reconstitution of the association’s leadership and electoral structures.

The disagreement has heightened security concerns at the multi-billion-naira market, which has witnessed previous leadership disputes, court cases and violent incidents.

The latest agitation comes months after hoodlums and suspected hired thugs reportedly invaded private property belonging to Mega Rickon Resources, resulting in the death of a staff member of the Trade Fair Management Board.

The Lagos State Police Command had also intervened following the shooting and killing of a Task Force Officer, late Kabiru Japata. The police reportedly invited BBA leaders and detained a suspect, Afam Ezeakire, who was said to be undergoing interrogation and investigation.

The current dispute is the latest in a series of leadership disagreements that have affected the association since the era of its late President, Chief Okey Ezeibe.

One of the major controversies dates back to 2021, when an election reportedly held at Villa Park Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, outside the market, produced a result that sections of the association rejected as unconstitutional.

Chief Odogwu, who emerged from that election, was alleged to have returned to the market on November 24, 2023, with the assistance of some security operatives to remove the Caretaker Committee led by Hon. Anselem Dunu. The committee was said to have been mandated to organise an inclusive election.

The removal reportedly led to several court cases, with the opposing camp continuing to challenge the circumstances surrounding the change of leadership.

Now, nearly three years later, the association is again divided over the conduct of another general election.

Findings indicate that the decision of the Odogwu-led administration to proceed with the November 17 poll is the immediate cause of the latest protest. The opposition group also alleged that access to nomination forms had been restricted, leaving Odogwu as the sole candidate.

Among those opposing the election timetable are life Board of Trustees member, Chief Nick Okeke; former presidents and vice presidents, including Chief Tony Obih and Chief Alex Odunukwe, popularly known as Pele; the market’s founder, Hon. Leonard Ogbonna; and other traders and business owners.

They said their appeals to Odogwu to suspend the proposed election and adopt a constitutionally acceptable process had been rejected.

Speaking on the dispute, Hon. Leonard Ogbonna insisted that the next BBA general election should hold on February 28, 2027.

Ogbonna said he was alarmed when suspected hired thugs allegedly mobbed and booed him, alongside former presidents, the vice president, life Board of Trustees members and other senior stakeholders, out of the association’s Secretariat.

He disclosed that the legal teams representing both sides had invited him and other senior stakeholders to a meeting aimed at resolving the dispute, reaching a peace agreement and establishing an acceptable electoral arrangement.

He, however, regretted that the effort failed.

Recounting the events of November 24, 2023, Ogbonna accused Odogwu of initiating the present leadership crisis through the removal of the Caretaker Committee headed by Hon. Anselem Dunu, which he described as the legitimate administration assigned to organise an all-inclusive election.

He also expressed confidence in the judiciary, alleging that Odogwu had disregarded more than three court orders and rulings.

On the November 17 election, the market founder dismissed the proposed timetable, claiming that the court had directed that no election should take place until the parties achieved peaceful reconciliation.

Ogbonna further said an agreement to restore peace, reconstitute a legitimate Board of Trustees and establish an electoral panel for an inclusive election on February 28, 2027, was rejected by Odogwu at the last stage of negotiations.

He maintained that genuine traders wanted peace but accused the incumbent administration of benefiting from the prolonged crisis.

Former Executives Challenge Electoral Process

Addressing journalists during a protest on Monday, November 9, 2026, the stakeholders described the proposed November 17 election as illegal and unconstitutional.

Placards displayed by the protesters included: “Illegal election panel cannot conduct election for BBA”, “BBA rejects the fraudulent election timetable” and “On BBA Constitution we stand”.

Former BBA General Secretary and presidential aspirant, Ogbuefi Emmanuel Otunabor, said members of the BBA/ICC were protesting what they considered a disregard for the association’s constitutional provisions on elections.

He noted that Odogwu’s tenure would expire on November 22, 2026, but alleged that the administration had failed to dissolve the Executive Council two months before the expiration of its tenure, as required by the association’s constitution.

Otunabor also faulted the appointment of the Electoral Committee, arguing that the responsibility constitutionally belonged to a Caretaker Committee established by the General Assembly.

He said:

“Our stand is very clear and we want to put it on record to all members of the BBA and the whole world today that we the members of BBA/ICC have observed with dismay, a total neglect and abuse of the BBA Electoral process as provided in our constitution by the current administration whose time will end on 22nd of this month”.

“The constitutional abuse is seen in the non-dissolution of the current Executive Council two months to the end of the administration as clearly provided by our constitution,” he said.

“Secondly, the illegal appointment of the Electoral Committee, which constitutionally should be done by the Caretaker Committee at the general assembly cannot stand.”

The stakeholders demanded the immediate restoration of what they described as constitutional order to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the market.

Former BBA President, Chief Alex Odunukwe (Pele), called on the incumbent leadership to dissolve the Executive Council and establish a Caretaker Committee before the expiration of Odogwu’s tenure.

He said:

“Considering the fact that the current administration is due to elapse constitutionally by November 22, 2026, the leadership should as a matter of urgency, dissolve the Executive Council immediately and set up the constitutional Caretaker Committee to takeover and conduct election.”

According to him, “the Caretaker Committee shall see to the conduct of the BBA election within two months”.

Odunukwe also raised concerns over the alleged presence of armed thugs and cultists around the BBA Secretariat, warning that their activities could endanger traders and other members of the association.

He said:

“BBA is currently disturbed on the huge number of armed thugs and cultists within the BBA Secretariat causing fears and apprehension amongst members. These hired thugs terrorizing the association and secretariat can lead to breakdown of law and order or even loss of life if not well handled”.

The stakeholders appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and called on the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Fair Complex to direct the BBA Executive Council to comply with the association’s constitution.

They warned that failure to resolve the dispute could result in another loss of life, recalling the recent fatal incident associated with the market’s security challenges.

Those present at the unsuccessful peace meeting included former Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. Anselem Dunu, and presidential aspirant, Chief Hilary Amande.

Odogwu Defends Administration, Insists On November 17 Poll

However, Chief Oscar Paul Ikechukwu Odogwu has denied the allegations against his administration and maintained that the November 17 election will hold as announced.

Speaking during a media chat, the BBA President said he was unaware of the meeting that reportedly brought opposition members and other stakeholders to the association’s Secretariat.

Odogwu argued that, as the sitting President, the association’s constitution recognises him as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Defending his administration’s electoral arrangements, he said his leadership had successfully put the machinery in place for a general election, an achievement he claimed previous administrations had failed to accomplish.

He also blamed the opposition leaders and former members of the Caretaker Committee for the deterioration of activities at the market complex, accusing them of prolonging their three-month caretaker tenure for more than three years through repeated litigation.

He alleged that those who had presided over the extended caretaker administration were now deliberately creating confusion over the election.

Odogwu said the Electoral Panel constituted by his administration announced the election guidelines on September 24, 2026.

He maintained that members who failed to purchase nomination forms before the expiration of the period stipulated by the panel had forfeited their eligibility to contest.

With Odogwu insisting on the November 17 election and the opposing stakeholders demanding a February 28, 2027, poll, the two camps remain divided over the electoral process.

The dispute is unfolding as the incumbent president’s tenure approaches its scheduled expiration on November 22, 2026.