The former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Iyabo Obasanjo, has quit the party over alleged maltreatment and lack of respect from the party leadership.
She disclosed this in a letter addressed to the State Chairman of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi, dated 31 May 2026, and obtained by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday.
Professor Obasanjo, who had served the state as former Commissioner for Health during the first term of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, and also as Senator representing Ogun Central, argued that the announcement of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the consensus candidate fell short of the party’s rules and guidelines on what a consensus arrangement should entail.
She recalled her earlier decision to abide by the party’s consensus arrangement, stating that she had not been consulted before Adeola was announced as the governorship candidate.
“When I started the journey to get the party’s nomination for governor, I came to see you, and I said to you, both privately and publicly, that I would honour the party’s consensus decision once it had been made.
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“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, and given the national party’s guidelines on consensus, which require meetings where all candidates agree on the candidate to 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 mobilising and encouraging grassroots APC support,” she stated in the letter.
The US-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology acknowledged that she initially accepted the outcome of the strategic stakeholders’ meeting where Adeola was announced despite alleged irregularities, and that a statement was issued the same night after his announcement, with a pledge to support him.
In the letter, Obasanjo also recounted what transpired the following day between her and Senator Adeola, whom she said called her, appreciated her support, and promised to visit her.
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According to her, Senator Adeola fulfilled his promise by visiting her two weeks later, and during the meeting, her supporters made three requests to the governorship candidate, asking him to indicate whether he would be able to address them.
She, however, expressed displeasure that Senator Adeola had not responded to her supporters’ requests months after the visit.
Professor Obasanjo, who cited maltreatment and cold reception since joining the party, said she was left with no choice but to quit the APC.
She appreciated President Bola Tinubu, Chief Sanusi, and the Ogun Central senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi for their support during her time in the ruling party.
“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 me and my followers, and we had that meeting about two weeks later.
“At that meeting, my people made three requests, which I said were not compulsory, but he should let me know so I could inform my people of his response, and he said I should give him a week.
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“Unless he gets back to me after I send this letter, he has not reached out to me after two months. This is just part of the general treatment I have received from the APC of disrespect and rejection, as if I was 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, one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcome. This is my resignation from the party.
“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,” she added.
