Iyabo Obasanjo Quits APC, Alleges Disrespect and Political Marginalization in Ogun

Former Ogun Central Senator and former Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned her membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party’s leadership in Ogun State of persistent disrespect, rejection, and unfair treatment.

Obasanjo, who recently contested for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31, 2026, and addressed to the Ogun State Chairman of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi. The letter became public on Monday.

The former senator’s decision follows months of dissatisfaction over the process that produced Senator Solomon Adeola as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate in Ogun State.

Obasanjo stated that although she had consistently supported a consensus arrangement as a means of fostering unity within the party and had pledged to abide by its outcome, she was neither consulted nor carried along before Adeola was eventually announced as the consensus candidate.

She further alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the venue where the consensus candidate was unveiled and that others faced intimidation and physical assault during the process. Similar concerns had earlier been raised by her in April when she criticised what she described as a lack of inclusiveness in the consensus arrangement.

Despite those reservations, Obasanjo said she accepted the party’s decision in the interest of unity, publicly congratulated Adeola, and suspended her governorship ambition immediately after his emergence as the party’s preferred candidate.

According to her, following Adeola’s emergence, he requested a meeting with her supporters during which several issues were presented for consideration. However, she claimed that more than two months after the meeting, no response had been received, a development she said reinforced her feeling of being sidelined within the party.

Explaining her decision to leave the APC, Obasanjo declared that the treatment she had received reflected a consistent pattern of disregard and rejection.

She stated that when “disrespect is the only dish served, one should leave the table,” adding that she was therefore leaving what she described as an environment where she was no longer welcomed.

Despite her resignation, Obasanjo expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Yemi Sanusi, and other APC leaders in Ogun Central for the support and courtesy extended to her during her brief stay in the party.

Her departure marks a significant development in Ogun State’s political landscape, particularly as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political observers believe the move could further fuel ongoing debates about internal democracy, inclusiveness, and candidate selection processes within the state’s ruling party.