ABEOKUTA – 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 persistent disrespect, rejection, and marginalisation by the party leadership in Ogun State.
Prof. Obasanjo announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State Chairman of the APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi. A copy of the letter was made available to journalists on Monday.
The former lawmaker, who recently contested for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election, expressed dissatisfaction with the consensus arrangement that produced Senator Solomon Adeola as the party’s governorship candidate, describing the process as inconsistent with the APC’s established guidelines.
According to her, although she had publicly and privately pledged to respect any consensus decision reached by the party, she was neither consulted nor carried along before Adeola was announced as the consensus candidate.
She argued that the process violated the party’s own rules, which require consultations among aspirants and their agreement before a consensus candidate can emerge.
Prof. Obasanjo further alleged that some of her supporters were violently prevented from entering the venue where the candidate was announced.
Despite her reservations, she said she chose to place party unity above personal interests by immediately congratulating Adeola and pledging support for his governorship ambition.
She disclosed that the senator subsequently reached out to appreciate her statesmanship and later met with her and her supporters. During the meeting, her supporters presented three requests, which she said were not mandatory but required a response.
According to her, Adeola promised to get back to them within a week but allegedly failed to do so more than two months later.
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health said the incident was one of several experiences that made her feel unwanted and unappreciated within the ruling party.
“When disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table,” she wrote, explaining her decision to resign from the APC.
Reflecting on the events surrounding the governorship selection process, Obasanjo maintained that she remained calm despite what she described as a flawed consensus procedure and hostility directed at her supporters.
She noted that her contributions to strengthening grassroots support for the APC across Ogun Central and other parts of the state appeared to have been overlooked by party leaders.
However, despite her grievances, the former senator expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi, and Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman Chief Soremi for the cordial treatment they accorded her during her time in the party.
“Through you, I want to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for receiving me warmly as usual, and I thank you and our Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman, Chief Soremi, as both of you treated me well, and I will always remember that,” she stated.
Prof. Obasanjo formally returned to partisan politics in January this year when she registered as a member of the APC in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Her return to active politics had generated widespread speculation following the appearance of campaign-style billboards across Abeokuta late last year, fueling discussions about a possible governorship bid ahead of the 2027 election.
Her resignation is expected to further intensify political discussions in Ogun State as preparations for the 2027 governorship race gather momentum.
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