Former Senator representing Ogun Central, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, citing what she described as persistent disrespect, rejection and unfair treatment by the party leadership in Ogun State.
Prof. Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, disclosed her decision in a resignation letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi.
The former lawmaker recently contested for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election but faulted the process that produced Senator Solomon Adeola as the party’s consensus candidate.
A copy of the letter was made available to journalists on Monday.
The US-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology argued that the emergence of Adeola as the consensus candidate did not follow the party’s laid-down guidelines.
According to her, although she had publicly and privately committed herself to accepting the party’s consensus decision, she was neither consulted nor carried along before the announcement was made.
Prof. Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, maintained that the APC’s rules required consultations and agreement among aspirants before adopting a consensus candidate.
She also alleged that some of her supporters were violently prevented from accessing the venue where Adeola was unveiled.
Despite her dissatisfaction with the process, she said she accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and immediately congratulated the candidate while pledging support for his ambition.
She added that Adeola later contacted her and held a meeting with her supporters, during which three requests were presented to him.
According to her, none of the requests was mandatory, but Adeola promised to respond within one week — a response she claimed never came more than two months later.
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health stated that the incident reflected a broader pattern of neglect and rejection she experienced within the party.
The letter read, “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.”
Despite the grievances raised in her letter, Prof. Obasanjo expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi and Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman, Chief Soremi, for their cordial relationship with her during her time in 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.”
Prof. Obasanjo formally rejoined partisan politics in January after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Speculation surrounding her political return gained momentum late last year after campaign-style billboards bearing her image surfaced 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 development fueled widespread speculation about her governorship ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.
