Former Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has formally dumped the party over alleged persistent disrespect, rejection and unfair treatment by the party’s leadership in Ogun State.
The former Ogun Central senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had recently lost out the APC governorship ticket to Senator Solomon Adeola, popu;arly known as Yayi who emerged as the party’s governorship consensus candidate.
Obasanjo, who announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the state APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, said the consensus process that produced Adeola is inconsistent with the party’s guidelines.
The former governorship aspirant explained that while she had pledged to accept the consensus arrangement adopted by the party, the party’s leadership did not consult or carry her along in the process before Adeola was announced as the consensus candidate.
She added that some of her supporters were prevented from entering the venue where the candidate was unveiled and were subjected to intimidation.
According to her, despite the reservations, she accepted the party’s decision in the interest of unity and publicly congratulated Adeola on the night of his emergence.
Obasanjo also accused Adeola of reneging on his promise to grant the three requests of her supporters during the meeting he held with them after several weeks.
She insisted that the ugly development reflected a broader pattern of disregard for her contributions to 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.
“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.”
The former female aspirant, however, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the Ogun APC chairman, Chief Sanusi, and the Ogun Central Senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi for their support and courtesy they extended to her while she remained in the party.
It will be recalled that Obasanjo returned to active politics earlier this year after 15 years to join APC in a bid to contest the 2027 Ogun state governorship.
