NGO Advises Gov Abiodun Against Assenting To Pregnancy Termination Bill

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), AYUBSON Life Foundation, Ogun State chapter advocating for the protection of unborn babies from abortion yesterday stormed the streets of Abeokuta, the state capital, to protest the passage of the Pregnancy Termination Bill passed into law by the state House of Assembly in September, 2026.

Clad in white T-shirts and armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, the pro-life agitators called on the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration not to join hands with those they described as “naive legislators” by signing the bill, which they said is against the federal statutes and the two major religions in the country.

Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “Say No To Abortion, Say Yes To Life”; “Protect Unborn Babies, Support Families”; “Choose Life, Not Abortion”; “Our children, Our Future: Protect Them”; “They deserve a chance to live” and “Together for a life-friendly Ogun State”, among others.

The pro-life members, an organisation that also advocates for the promotion of a culture of life in society, had gathered under the overhead bridge that connects the popular Abiola Way with the IBB Boulevard in Abeokuta metropolis, from where they marched through to the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, where they terminated their “awareness campaign” that was calling the attention of the state governor, Abiodun, to the need not to assent to the Bill.

Speaking with journalists at the main entrance of the Governor’s Gate, the Founder and Chief Executive Director of the Pro-life organisation, Ayuba Yusuf, said his organisation decided to embark on the protest to express its serious concerns about the Bill.

Yusuf emphasised that the street awareness campaign particularly aimed to ensure that Governor Abiodun hears their agitation, particularly when his administration, over the period, failed to acknowledge receipt of their previous petitions and act on them.

LEADERSHIP recalled that the Ogun State lawmaker had on Wednesday, 24 September 2026, passed into law the Bill seeking to legalise pregnancy termination in the state.

The Bill, titled: H.B. No. 036/OG/2026 – Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026, was passed at plenary presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide after the report of the House Committee on Health chaired by Hon. Wahab Haruna.

But speaking with journalists during the protest on Thursday, Yusuf declared that abortion is illegal in Nigeria “and we consider it the taking of an innocent unborn baby’s life.

“We question whether Ogun State has the authority to legalise something that is illegal at the federal level. Therefore, we are saying no to this bill. Abortion is illegal in Nigeria, and we believe that it is prohibited without exception.

“We understand that the bill is awaiting the governor’s assent before it can be fully implemented in Ogun State.

“We maintain that abortion is illegal at the federal level and that it poses significant risks to both the mother and the unborn baby. We are also concerned about the mental health challenges that abortion can cause.

“Even in cases involving crisis pregnancies, I do not believe abortion is the best option or the solution. Women need support. Women experiencing crisis pregnancies need medical care, practical assistance, solutions, counselling, and guidance.

“That is why we are calling on the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, not to sign this bill. I believe that the two major religions in Ogun State, Christianity and Islam, neither encourage nor support pregnancy termination at any stage.

“This is why we want to send a clear message to the governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun: he should not sign this bill. He should withhold his assent because we believe the bill will cause more harm than good.

“We are in a situation where people are already facing numerous challenges, including hunger, poverty, and a lack of job opportunities. I believe the government should focus on addressing these challenges rather than introducing a policy that we oppose on the grounds of protecting unborn babies.

“Therefore, we are appealing to the governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, not to sign or implement the pregnancy termination bill in Ogun State.

“What baffles us most is that the people who will be affected by this bill have no voice and cannot speak for themselves. Many of the people who will be affected are not even aware that the bill has been passed.

“Our concern is that, by the time the bill is fully implemented and its effects begin to be felt, particularly by women, it may be too late to prevent the consequences we fear.

“We understand that the governor has not yet assented to the bill, and that is why we are here. We believe he will hear our concerns.”