Ilaje communities threaten 2027 election boycott over ocean surge

Twenty coastal communities in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have threatened to boycott the 2027 general elections. The Coalition of Ilaje Ravaged Communities, supported by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), issued the warning following protests in Igbokoda.

The communities are demanding urgent intervention from both the Federal and Ondo State governments to combat a devastating ocean surge and coastal erosion. Residents are calling for the construction of sea walls, groynes, and other shoreline protection measures to address what they describe as a humanitarian emergency.

The advancing Atlantic Ocean has already destroyed significant infrastructure, including homes, schools, health facilities, and fishing grounds. The community of Ayetoro has been particularly hard-hit, with reports indicating that 85 percent of the settlement has been lost to the ocean.