Ogun State governorship aspirant, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has decried her exclusion despite supporting the consensus approach for the gubernatorial primaries in the State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement she issued to journalists on Thursday, Obasanjo expressed that she consistently advocated for consensus as a strategic……
Ogun State governorship aspirant, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has decried her exclusion despite supporting the consensus approach for the gubernatorial primaries in the State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement she issued to journalists on Thursday, Obasanjo expressed that she consistently advocated for consensus as a strategic pathway to prevent internal division.
She said, “Throughout my consultations ahead of the Ogun State governorship primaries under the All Progressives Congress (APC), I consistently advocated for consensus as a strategic pathway to reduce tension, prevent internal divisions, and position our party for electoral success in 2027.
“I made it clear that I would abide by the outcome of any consensus arrangement, regardless of its direction, and I have remained true to that commitment.”
The former lawmaker representing Ogun central pointed at the Ogun APC Caucus meeting held on April 13, 2026, where Senator Olamilekan Adeola was announced as the party’s consensus candidate, noting that she immediately congratulated him and suspended all activities related to her gubernatorial aspiration, in line with her earlier pledge and respect for party decisions.
The ex-lawmaker alleged that although she supported the party’s decision, her contributions were not acknowledged, while party leaders recognised aspirants from another political zone.
Senator Iyabo emphasised that it is important to reflect on aspects of the process that require improvement if the party is intentional in achieving the cohesion and inclusiveness that consensus is meant to promote.
Reflecting on the aspect of inclusion, Obasanjo recounted that on the day of the Ogun APC Caucus meeting, “some of my supporters were denied entry and regrettably, two were physically assaulted by a party functionary.
“While I chose not to escalate the situation in the interest of party unity, the incident required medical attention for those affected. Such occurrences do not reflect the values of discipline, order and mutual respect that our party represents. During the proceedings, acknowledgement was given to certain aspirants who stepped down, particularly from one zone.”
Obasanjo added, “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.”
Senator Obasanjo expressed that her campaign was built on direct engagement with party leaders, local government structures and ward members, an approach she said energised her political base across Ogun Central, Ogun East, and Ogun West.
She argued that the momentum was further strengthened by the steadfast support of the Iyaniwura Foundation and thousands of loyal supporters across the state and beyond, stressing that their commitment and belief in this vision contributed meaningfully to the party’s growing strength and deserved recognition as part of our collective efforts.
She emphasised that her loyalty to the APC remains unwavering, noting that “I am not defecting and I will continue to support the success of our party, including the candidacy of Senator Adeola.”
She also reaffirms support for President Bola Tinubu and his administration, which continues to deliver critical infrastructure and development to Ogun State.
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. True unity is not achieved by consensus alone, but through recognition, respect and collective engagement.”
“As we prepare for the next phase of nominations and campaigning, my supporters and I remain ready to contribute meaningfully to the party’s success. Our experience, network and goodwill, particularly across Ogun Central and other parts of the state, remain valuable assets in strengthening our collective electoral prospects,” she concluded.
