Former Ogun governorship aspirant, Iyabo Obasanjo, has expressed reservations about how the All Progressives Congress (APC) arrived at its consensus candidate for the 2027 election in the state.
On April 13, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced Solomon Adeola, the senator representing Ogun West, as the party’s preferred flagbearer following a caucus meeting in Abeokuta.
He said the decision was reached after consultations aimed at promoting unity and continuity within the party.
Iyabo, daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, subsequently stepped down from the race after the announcement.
READ RELATED STORY
Iyabo Obasanjo shelves Ogun gov ambition
Iyabo Obasanjo returns to politics, joins APC
Joining APC is personal – Iyabo Obasanjo
2027: Obasanjo’s daughter, Iyabo, declares interest in Ogun gov race
In a statement on Thursday, she reiterated her support for consensus as a strategy to minimise internal conflict and strengthen party cohesion, but said its execution in Ogun State did not fully reflect those ideals.
“Throughout my consultations ahead of the Ogun state governorship primaries, I consistently advocated for consensus as a strategic pathway to reduce tension, prevent internal divisions, and position our party for electoral success in 2027,” she said.
Obasanjo noted that she respected the outcome of the process, congratulated Adeola, and halted her campaign in line with her earlier commitment.
“I immediately congratulated him and suspended all activities related to my gubernatorial aspiration, in line with my earlier pledge and my respect for party decisions,” she added.
However, the former aspirant alleged that certain incidents surrounding the meeting undermined the inclusiveness expected of a consensus arrangement.
“On the day of the meeting, some of my supporters were denied entry and regrettably, two were physically assaulted by a party functionary,” she alleged.
“Such occurrences do not reflect the values of discipline, order and mutual respect that our party represents.”
She also criticised what she described as the failure to recognise other aspirants present at the meeting, including herself and Mr Tunde Lemo.
“Other candidates across the state, including myself and Mr Tunde Lemo, who were present in the hall, were not acknowledged, despite our extensive consultations and the strong grassroots momentum we generated across Ogun state,” she said.
Despite her concerns, Obasanjo reaffirmed her loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for both the party and its candidate, as well as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“My loyalty to the APC remains unwavering. I am not defecting and I will continue to support the success of our party, including the candidacy of senator Adeola,” she said.
She urged party leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach in future engagements, stressing that unity requires more than agreement on paper.
“True unity is not achieved by consensus alone, but through recognition, respect and collective engagement,” she said.
“Going forward, I respectfully urge our party leadership at all levels to embrace a more inclusive approach, one that acknowledges the contributions of all aspirants and carries everyone along.”
Obasanjo added that she and her supporters remain committed to contributing to the party’s success ahead of upcoming elections.
Obasanjo’s remarks come amid growing tensions within the party, following claims by Gbenga Daniel, senator representing Ogun East, that he was prevented from attending a caucus meeting in Ijebu Ode.
A video circulating on social media showed Daniel’s convoy being denied entry to Adeola Odutola Hall while the meeting was ongoing.
Addressing supporters outside the venue, he insisted that any decisions taken at the gathering would not stand.
