In a significant political move, Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former senator representing Ogun Central, has announced her departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC). She attributed her resignation to what she described as a continuing pattern of marginalization, rejection, and unfair treatment by the party’s leadership in Ogun State.
The decision was conveyed in a letter dated May 31, addressed to the Ogun APC chairman, Yemi Sanusi. Obasanjo, a US-based epidemiologist, had recently sought the party’s governorship ticket for Ogun State but was unsuccessful. She criticized the process that led to the emergence of Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, claiming the consensus method used did not follow the party’s established guidelines.
She stated that although she had agreed to support any candidate selected through a consensus process, she was neither consulted nor informed before Adeola’s announcement. Furthermore, some of her supporters were allegedly barred from the venue where the candidate was unveiled and faced intimidation during the event. Despite these concerns, Obasanjo said she accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and promptly congratulated Adeola.
She also revealed that Adeola later agreed to meet with her supporters, who presented three demands. However, despite a promise to respond within a week, no feedback was given even after two months. This, she said, reinforced a recurring lack of appreciation for her contributions within the party.
Obasanjo expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the Ogun APC leadership, and party stakeholders for their support during her time in the APC. She had rejoined partisan politics earlier this year, registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area. Her political career includes serving as Ogun State Commissioner for Health from 2003 to 2007 and as a senator representing Ogun Central from 2007 to 2011. After losing her re-election bid in 2011, she moved to the United States and stayed away from active politics until late 2025, when campaign billboards appeared across Ogun State signaling her potential return for the 2027 governorship race.