Iyabo Obasanjo Leaves APC, Citing Disrespect and Maltreatment by Party Leadership in 2027.

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Former Senator for Ogun Central and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC). She said the decision was prompted by what she described as disrespect, rejection and maltreatment by the party’s state leadership.

Professor Obasanjo, who recently sought the APC governorship ticket for the 2027 elections, submitted a resignation letter on 31 May to Ogun State Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi. A copy of the letter was released to journalists on Monday.

The US‑based Associate Professor of Epidemiology criticized the consensus process that produced Senator Solomon Adeola as the APC’s candidate in Ogun State, arguing that it violated the party’s own guidelines. She noted that she had publicly and privately pledged to accept any consensus decision, but the leadership announced Adeola without consulting her.

She said the process breached APC rules, which require consultation and agreement among aspirants before a consensus candidate is adopted. She also alleged that some of her supporters were violently prevented from entering the venue where Adeola’s emergence was announced.

Despite her concerns, Obasanjo said she prioritized party unity and immediately congratulated Adeola, pledging her support for his gubernatorial bid. Adeola later contacted her to thank her for her statesmanship and met with her and her supporters.

During the meeting, her supporters presented three requests, none of which were mandatory. Adeola promised a response within a week but, according to Obasanjo, failed to follow up more than two months later.

The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health said this incident was just one of several experiences that left her feeling rejected and unappreciated within the party.

The resignation letter reads: “When I started the journey to get the party’s nomination for Governor, I came to see you and I said to you and everyone both privately and publicly that I will honor the party’s consensus decision once it has been made. When that day came, even as violence was perpetrated against my supporters to stop them from entering the venue, I maintained my calmness. At the venue, with no prior meeting with me as a candidate, given what the national party says in its guidelines on what consensus should be, i.e., having meetings where all candidates agree to the candidate that will be announced, a candidate was announced. No one acknowledged my presence at the meeting, given that I was the most prominent opposition to the candidate chosen, and I had traversed the state mobilizing and encouraging grassroots APC support. Based on my conviction that party unity is important, I wrote my letter accepting the party’s consensus candidate that night, even with the flawed process. The consensus candidate called me the next morning and asked for a meeting with my followers and me, which we had about 2 weeks later. At that meeting, my people made 3 requests, which I said were not compulsory, but he should let me know so I would let my people know his responses, and he said I should give him a week. Unless he gets back to me after I send this letter, he has not reached out to me after 2 months. This is just part of the general treatment I have received from APC of disrespect and rejection, as if I were not there, making contributions that increased support for the party in Ogun Central and across the state. A famous person once said that when disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcome. This is my resignation from the party.”

Obasanjo thanked President Bola Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi, and Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman Chief Soremi for their warm treatment during her brief tenure in the party. She added: “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. Best Regards.”

Professor Obasanjo returned to partisan politics in January after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. Late last year, billboards bearing her image appeared across Abeokuta with the inscription: “In Ogun State, we know ourselves. Sen. (Prof.) Iyabo Obasanjo. Omo wa ni, eniyan wa ni, ara wa ni.” The campaign sparked speculation about her potential governorship bid for the 2027 elections.

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