Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, former senator representing Ogun Central and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has formally withdrawn her membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what she described as continuous neglect, exclusion, and disrespect by the party leadership in Ogun State.
Her resignation was conveyed in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi. A copy of the letter was obtained by our correspondent on Monday.
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The US-based epidemiologist and associate professor, who recently sought the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State, expressed dissatisfaction with the consensus arrangement that led to the emergence of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the party’s preferred governorship candidate.
According to Obasanjo, the process that produced Adeola did not align with the party’s established procedures. She maintained that despite her commitment to respect any consensus decision reached by the APC, she was excluded from consultations and had no input before the senator was unveiled as the consensus candidate.
She further alleged that some of her supporters were denied entry to the venue where Adeola was officially presented and were allegedly subjected to acts of intimidation.
Despite her concerns, Obasanjo said she chose to accept the outcome for the sake of party harmony and publicly congratulated Adeola immediately after his emergence.
She revealed that following the exercise, Adeola reached out and requested a meeting with her supporters. During the engagement, three key demands were presented, and the senator reportedly promised to provide feedback within a week.
However, she noted that more than two months later, neither she nor her supporters had received any response.
Obasanjo said the silence reinforced what she described as a recurring pattern of disregard for her efforts and contributions within the party.
“I had committed myself to supporting whoever emerged through a consensus process, but I was not involved in consultations before Senator Adeola was announced as the consensus candidate. Some of my supporters were also prevented from accessing the venue and were intimidated. Even so, I accepted the outcome and congratulated him in the interest of party unity,” she stated.
“Afterwards, Senator Adeola met with my supporters and assured us that he would respond to three requests within one week. More than two months have passed without any communication.
“The experiences that followed have only strengthened the feeling that I am neither valued nor respected within the party. When a table offers nothing but disrespect, the sensible thing to do is leave. For that reason, I have decided to exit the APC.”
Despite her decision to leave, the former lawmaker expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi, and leaders of the Ogun Central Senatorial District, led by Chief Soremi, for the support and courtesy shown to her during her time in the party.
Obasanjo re-entered active politics earlier this year when she registered as a member of the APC in Ward 11, Ibogun, within Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Before then, she served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health between 2003 and 2007 and later represented Ogun Central in the Senate from 2007 to 2011.
Following her unsuccessful bid for a second term in the Senate in 2011, she relocated to the United States and largely stayed away from partisan political activities.
Speculation about her political return intensified in late 2025 when campaign billboards bearing her image appeared across Abeokuta, fueling talks of a possible governorship ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.
She later declared her intention to contest the Ogun governorship under the APC before ultimately announcing her departure from the ruling party.
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