JUST IN: Obasanjo’s Daughter Iyabo Dumps APC, Gives Reasons

Former Senator representing Ogun Central and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what she described as repeated disrespect, exclusion and unfair treatment by the party leadership in Ogun State.

Her decision was contained in a resignation letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi.

The development comes just weeks after she stepped down from the race for the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

Prof. Obasanjo, an Associate Professor of Epidemiology based in the United States, expressed dissatisfaction with the consensus arrangement that produced Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the APC governorship candidate.

According to her, she had accepted the idea of a consensus process and was ready to support any candidate that emerged through it. However, she claimed that she was not consulted before the final decision was announced.

She also alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the venue where the candidate was unveiled and were intimidated during the exercise.

Despite her concerns, the former senator said she decided to put the interest of the party first and publicly congratulated Adeola on the day he emerged as the consensus candidate.

She disclosed that after the exercise, the senator reached out and requested a meeting with her supporters. During the meeting, three requests were presented, with an assurance that a response would come within one week.

According to her, more than two months have passed without any feedback, a situation she said confirmed a pattern of neglect.

Explaining her decision to leave the ruling party, Obasanjo stated, **”I agreed to support whichever candidate emerged through a consensus process, but I was not consulted before Senator Adeola was presented as the consensus candidate. Some of my supporters were denied access to the venue and intimidated. Nevertheless, I accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Senator Adeola that same night.

“Following his emergence, Senator Adeola requested a meeting with my supporters. During that meeting, three requests were made and he promised to respond within one week. More than two months later, no response has been received.

“The treatment I have received since then has reflected a consistent pattern of rejection and disrespect. When disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcomed.”

Although she expressed disappointment over her experience in the party, the former lawmaker thanked President Bola Tinubu, the Ogun APC chairman, Chief Sanusi, and members of the Ogun Central Senatorial leadership for the support and courtesies extended to her while she remained in the party.

Prof. Obasanjo only returned to active politics earlier this year after formally joining the APC in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. Her return sparked political discussions across the state after campaign billboards bearing her image surfaced in Abeokuta, signalling her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election.

Recall that Politics Nigeria had earlier reported that Iyabo Obasanjo suspended her governorship ambition after the APC adopted Senator Solomon Adeola as its consensus candidate for the 2027 Ogun governorship race.