Former Ogun Central Senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what she described as persistent disrespect, exclusion, and unfair treatment by the party’s leadership in Ogun State.
Obasanjo announced her decision in a resignation letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi. A copy of the letter was made available to journalists on Monday.
The United States-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology expressed dissatisfaction with the process that produced Solomon Adeola as the APC’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, describing the consensus arrangement as inconsistent with the party’s established guidelines.
According to her, although she had committed to supporting any candidate that emerged through a consensus process, she was neither consulted nor involved before Adeola was announced as the party’s consensus choice.
She further alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the venue where the candidate was unveiled and were subjected to intimidation during the event.
Despite her concerns, Obasanjo said she accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Adeola on the night he emerged as the candidate.
The former senator disclosed that Adeola later sought a meeting with her supporters, during which three requests were presented to him. She said the senator promised to respond within a week, but more than two months later, no feedback had been received.
She argued that the silence reinforced what she described as a longstanding pattern of disregard for her contributions and political aspirations within the party.
“I agreed to support whichever candidate emerged through a consensus process, but I was not consulted before Senator Adeola was presented as the consensus candidate. Some of my supporters were denied access to the venue and intimidated. Nevertheless, I accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Senator Adeola that same night,” she stated.
“Following his emergence, Senator Adeola requested a meeting with my supporters. During that meeting, three requests were made and he promised to respond within one week. More than two months later, no response has been received.
“The treatment I have received since then has reflected a consistent pattern of rejection and disrespect. When disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcomed.”
Despite her grievances, Obasanjo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Sanusi, and the Ogun Central Senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi for the support and courtesies extended to her during her time in the party.
Obasanjo returned to active politics earlier this year after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
She previously served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health between 2003 and 2007 before representing Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate from 2007 to 2011.
Following her unsuccessful re-election bid in 2011, she relocated to the United States and remained largely absent from partisan politics. Speculation about her political comeback intensified in late 2025 when campaign billboards bearing her image surfaced across Abeokuta ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
She later declared her intention to contest the Ogun State governorship under the APC before ultimately severing ties with the ruling party.