ONDО WOMEN AFFAIRS IMBROGLIO: Erelu Oloruntoba’s Gallery Seating at Abuja APC Event Sparks Protocol Controversy
ONDО WOMEN AFFAIRS IMBROGLIO: Erelu Oloruntoba’s Gallery Seating at Abuja APC Event Sparks Protocol Controversy
WELCOME TO ONDO STATE WOMEN AFFAIRS IMBROGLIO: WOMEN AFFAIRS PALAVER AS ERELU WAS OUTPLAYED BY COLLEAGUE AT ABUJA EVENT: THE BAPTISM OF FIRE
Abuja A protocol dispute involving two Ondo State commissioners has emerged from last week’s All Progressives Congress (APC) *WOMEN STAKEHOLDERS’ MOBILISATION AND EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN ROLL OUT 2026* national gathering of women leaders in Abuja. The commissioner for special duties was seen seated at the gallery. The gallery was meant for spectators while the officials were the ones to seat at the main event through its entrance.
At the event Hon. Mrs. Seun Bosede Osamaye, Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, allegedly assigned a blue accreditation tag to her colleague by herself Hon. Erelu Taibat Oloruntoba, the newly appointed Commissioner for Special Duties (widely referred to as “the stylish woman of Ondo State”), instead of a VIP red tag. Unknowingly to the commissioner for special duties, the blue tag that was given to her by her colleague was meant for those people who will seat at the gallery at the event. Meanwhile, the Red tag was for the main entrance to the event. This means, the Erelu was prevented from entrance while Osamaye and some others entered and sat down at the event. Erelu eventually resigned to fate and proceeded to sit at the gallery as spectator; this protocol embarrassment from Hon Seun Bosede Osamaye to her colleague was the subject of heated discussion amongst all the delegates to the event. Baptism of political fire indeed.
As a result of the Blue tag given to her, Erelu Oloruntoba was seated at the gallery where ordinary people seated which goes against the protocol because commissioners from other states and the dignitaries were all seated at the VIP SECTION. Importantly, it’s only two commissioners in Ondo state that attended in the absence of the commissioner for Finance. So only Hon Erelu and Hon Osamaye attended as the highest dignitaries from Ondo State.
Sources and observations at the event indicate that more than 100 women from Ondo State were accredited to attend. Of these, 20 VIP (red) tags were allocated to the state delegation. While several other Ondo women received VIP accreditation, the Commissioner for Special Duties was observed wearing a regular blue tag and occupying a seat at the gallery, a humiliating view of protocol.
Protocol observers note that accreditation and seating arrangements at high-level political events are expected to reflect official status and hierarchy. The decision to issue a regular tag to a serving commissioner of equal rank has raised questions about the basis for the allocation. Report from some women from Ondo State who attended the event: Erelu was seen at the entrance where she was denied entry to the dignitaries section. However, the commissioner for women affairs who was in charge of distribution of Tags gave herself a red tag.
Repeated attempts to reach both Hon. Seun Bosede Osamaye and Hon. Erelu Taibat Oloruntoba for comment have so far been unsuccessful, as calls to both officials have gone unanswered.
Further inquiries are ongoing to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the accreditation and seating arrangements.
WELCOME TO ONDO STATE WOMEN AFFAIRS IMBROGLIO
It’s untrue Osamaye replied….
Our Heritage Reporter reached out to the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Mrs. Seun Bosede Osamaye, for her reaction to the controversy surrounding the accreditation tags and seating arrangements at the APC Women Stakeholders’ Mobilisation and Empowerment Campaign Roll Out 2026 in Abuja. Responding to the allegations that she allegedly assigned a blue accreditation tag to her colleague, Hon. Erelu Taibat Oloruntoba, Commissioner for Special Duties, while wearing a red VIP tag herself, Osamaye firmly dismissed the claim.
“This is absolutely untrue, I wore the blue tag myself,” Osamaye replied, rejecting the allegation that she deliberately gave her colleague a blue tag while reserving VIP accreditation for herself. Her response introduces a different perspective to the unfolding controversy and raises further questions about the circumstances surrounding the distribution of accreditation tags and the seating arrangements for members of the Ondo State delegation at the event. Our Heritage Reporter will continue to seek clarification from the relevant parties to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
