Iyabo Obasanjo Defects to APC, Cites Discomfort in PDP and Lack of Recognition

Former Ogun State Commissioner for Health and daughter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo Obasanjo, has officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing personal discomfort and lack of engagement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as key reasons for her defection.

Speaking on Frontline, a current affairs program on Eagle 102.5 FM Ilese Ijebu, Obasanjo emphasized that her decision was entirely voluntary, dismissing claims that the APC pressured her to switch parties. “APC never approached me. I made the choice on my own after analyzing the situation. The primary reason I left PDP was that I wasn’t comfortable there,” she stated.

Obasanjo, who returned to active politics after a 15-year hiatus, previously lost her 2011 re-election bid to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). She subsequently relocated to the United States, where she pursued her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Reflecting on her PDP experience, she recounted feeling sidelined despite her influence and contributions. “The only time I got a call from them was during election season, when they needed my support. That transactional approach was unacceptable. I will never go back,” she said. She further criticized PDP leadership, stating, “If you don’t care for prominent members of your own party, how can you care for the ordinary person on the street?”

Obasanjo also noted that her previous loyalty to PDP was influenced by her father’s position as a party chieftain at the time. “Now that my father is no longer affiliated with any party, I am a free agent,” she explained, stressing that her move to APC reflects her personal convictions rather than political maneuvering.

Her defection comes ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ogun State, marking a significant realignment in the state’s political landscape.