Esther Soyannwo

Soyannwo was educated at CMS Girls School Lagos and worked as a teacher. A mother of six,^[1] she entered politics in the 1950s, joining the Action Group and becoming an activist for its women's section in 1953. She was elected to Ijebu South district council,^[2] and was later the Action Group's only female candidate in 1964 parliamentary elections.^[3] Her campaign was funded by her brother, a wealthy businessman in Ijebu,^[4] who gave her £2,000.^[2] Her campaign was also assisted by the Ijebu Women's Association.^[2] She defeated her Nigerian National Democratic Party opponent Sanya Onabamiro by 18,232 votes to 2,149,^[2] one of the new Action Group candidates to win in Western Region.^[1] However, her election led to violence and the party advised her it would be too dangerous to take her seat.^[2]