Former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Iyabo Obasanjo, has called on party leaders to prioritise fairness and inclusiveness in the adoption of a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obasanjo expressed support for the consensus approach as a strategy to sustain party unity, but warned that it must not sideline the contributions of other aspirants who stepped down in the interest of cohesion.
She revealed that during her consultations before the primaries, she had consistently championed consensus as a means of preventing internal divisions and strengthening the party’s electoral prospects.
“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,” she said.
Obasanjo noted that she demonstrated loyalty to the party by congratulating the adopted candidate, Solomon Adeola, following the APC caucus meeting held on April 13, 2026, in Abeokuta, after which she halted her campaign activities.
However, she raised concerns that the process failed to adequately recognise all aspirants, stressing that consensus should not come at the expense of fairness and inclusion.
The former senator also alleged that some of her supporters were mistreated during the caucus meeting, claiming that a number of them were denied access while two individuals were physically assaulted by a party functionary.
“Such occurrences do not reflect the values of discipline, order, and mutual respect that our party represents,” she stated.
Obasanjo further lamented that while certain aspirants were acknowledged during the proceedings, others—including herself and Dr. Tunde Lemo—were overlooked despite their extensive grassroots engagement across Ogun Central, Ogun East, and Ogun West.
She emphasised that her campaign had built significant support across the state, adding that such efforts deserved recognition as part of the party’s collective progress.
Despite her reservations, Obasanjo reaffirmed her commitment to the APC and pledged support for both Adeola’s candidacy and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“My loyalty to the APC remains unwavering. I am not defecting, and I will continue to support the success of our party,” she affirmed.
She concluded by urging party leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach, stressing that genuine unity must be built on recognition, respect, and collective engagement as the party prepares for future elections.