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, exclusion and unfair treatment by the party leadership in Ogun State.
Obasanjo announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi. A copy of the letter was made available to journalists on Monday.
The United States-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology, who recently sought the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State, criticised the consensus arrangement that produced Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the party’s candidate.
According to her, while she had agreed to support any candidate that emerged through a consensus process, she was neither consulted nor involved before Adeola was announced as the party’s consensus choice.
She also alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the venue where the candidate was unveiled and were subjected to intimidation.
Despite her concerns, Obasanjo said she accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Adeola on the night he emerged as the consensus candidate.
She disclosed that Adeola later requested a meeting with her supporters, during which three requests were presented to him. However, she said the senator promised to respond within a week but failed to do so more than two months later.
Obasanjo described the development as part of a broader pattern of disregard for her contributions and standing within the party.
“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,” she stated.
She added that although Adeola sought a meeting with her supporters after his emergence and promised to respond to issues raised during the engagement, no feedback had been received months later.
“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,” she said.
Despite her decision to leave the party, Obasanjo expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the Ogun APC chairman, Chief Sanusi, and the Ogun Central Senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi for the support and courtesy they extended to her during her time in the party.
Obasanjo returned to active politics earlier this year after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
She previously served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health between 2003 and 2007 and represented Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate from 2007 to 2011.
Following the end of her tenure in the Senate and an unsuccessful re-election bid in 2011, she relocated to the United States and largely stayed away from partisan politics.
Her political comeback became evident in late 2025 when campaign billboards bearing her image appeared across Abeokuta ahead of the 2027 election cycle. She later declared her intention to contest the Ogun governorship under the APC before announcing her resignation from the party.
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