Former Ogun Central senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what she described as persistent disrespect, rejection and unfair treatment by the party leadership in Ogun State.
In a resignation letter dated last month and addressed to the Ogun APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, Obasanjo said her decision followed a series of events surrounding the party’s governorship selection process ahead of the 2027 election.
The former senator, 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.
She argued that the process did not comply with the party’s established guidelines and claimed she was neither consulted nor involved before Adeola was unveiled as the consensus candidate.
“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,” she said.
Obasanjo further alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the venue where the candidate was announced and were subjected to intimidation.
Despite her concerns, she said she accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Adeola on the night he emerged as the party’s candidate.
According to her, the senator later reached out and requested a meeting with her supporters, during which three requests were presented.
“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,” she stated.
The former lawmaker said the lack of response reinforced what she described as a longstanding pattern of disregard for her contributions to the party.
“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.
While announcing her departure, Obasanjo expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Ogun APC chairman Chief Sanusi, and leaders of the Ogun Central Senatorial District for the support and courtesies extended to her during her time in the party.
Obasanjo returned to active partisan politics earlier this year after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
She subsequently declared her intention to contest the Ogun governorship election on the platform of the APC before the emergence of Adeola as the party’s consensus candidate.
