Members of Abia Cluster in BBA in a peaceful protest in front of their Cluster in Lagos International Trade Fair complex before heading to Alagbon Police Headquaters on Thursday, March 26, 2026. All Photos by Business Hilights
Majority of business owners under Abia Cluster in Balogun Business Association (BBA), Lagos International Trade Fair complex on Thursday, protested against the petition to Police by a number of people whom the general house has officially removed from office through a vote of no confidence in their general meeting.
The peaceful protest started in the morning at the Abia Cluster in BBA before they massively moved out of the complex to Alagbon Police Headquarters Annex in Ikoyi in solidarity to some of their members who were invited by the Police over a petition.
Addressing the media, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) set up by the Cluster members after the passage of vote of no confidence to manage the affairs of the Cluster pending when a fresh election will be conducted, Mr. Peter Okpala said they are worried on why upon they have passed a vote of no confidence on the people, they are still trying to force themselves on the group.
Speaking to members after meeting with the Police at Alagbon in Ikoyi, he described the meeting with Police and the invited members as very cordial and successful. He revealed that the Police has invited them again on 20th of April for more discussion and advised them to go back and continue their business without any form of fear or favour.
Okpala thanked all the over 100 members who came in many buses to show solidarity for their members invited by the Police on the matter.
Explaining more to Business Hilights in an interview at Alagbon, Okpala said “the CTC is in full control of the Cluster and that is why on our authority and in further solidarity to all our members invited today by the Police, we have to shutdown the Cluster and come here to register our strong support and solidarity for those members in the petition”.
“You can see when the SO General at the Alagbon Police gate addressed all of us with our placards. He assured us that the Police will carry out a clear investigation in the matter without fear or favour and make sure that the truth and nothing but the truth is revealed.
Okpala further announced that “As we go back to our shops now, the CTC will meet and decide when we will have our general praise and worship which we have been doing to pray to God for progress and peace in the Cluster.
Also speaking to the excited members after the Police meeting, a former executive member of the Cluster, Chief Dr. Emeka Igbosopuru expressed happiness on the turnout of Abia Cluster members in their numbers to Alagbon in solidarity for the petitioned officials of the CTC, saying it shows that the CTC is fully in charge of the Cluster.
He assured members that “With God, justice and peace will return to Abia Cluster at the end of the matter. We will continue to pray over it so that God will handle the matter and deliver justice to all of us at Abia Cluster.”
Earlier in his address to the protesting Abia Cluster members at the main gate of the Alagbon Police Headquarters Annnex., the SO General assured that the Police will not bend the matter but will do justice and serve justice in the matter. He advised the Abia Cluster members to be rest assured that their message of solidarity for their petitioned members have been well received by the Police and hinted that “Even the AIG Zone 2, Lagos is interested in the matter because he has through the CCTV seen all the mammoth crowd of protesters here with your placards this afternoon, and that is why I have been detailed to come and address all of you that justice must be served and seen as served by the Police in this matter.”
“This matter is no more an ordinary matter and we officers handling it will be very careful in delivering the needed justice so that peace, law and order will be in your Cluster.
Some of the writings on the placards displayed by the protesting Abia Cluster business owners included but not limited to ‘We Stand By Our Caretaker Committee Members’, ‘Our Passed Vote of No Confidence on All of You Stands’, You are no more our leaders in Abia Plaza’, ‘We Don’t Want Any of You Again in Office’, We Have Full Confidence on Our Caretaker Committee members’, ‘Abia Cluster is not Banana Republic’,
‘We are Law Abiding at Abia Cluster’, A Vote of No Confidence Means You Are No More Wanted’, and so many others. Their lawyer from Obiagwu & Obiagwu (SAN) Chambers was on ground throughout guiding their activities from the Trade Fair complex to Alagbon Police Headquarters in Ikoyi and back to the complex in the evening.
Business Hilights reports that the chartered Coaster buses that took the over 150 members of Abia Cluster to Alagbon Police Headquarters took everybody back to the Trade Faire complex around 4:15pm even as the members were returning with the buses in praises on the smooth discussion and address by the Police at Alagbon Police Headquarters.
Efforts to get the views of the BBA President, Chief Oscar Odogwu at press time failed.
