Why I Left APC — Iyabo Obasanjo Reveals

Former Ogun Central senator, Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what she described as persistent disrespect, marginalisation and rejection by the party despite her contributions to its growth in Ogun State.

In a resignation letter dated May 31, 2026 and addressed to the Ogun APC chairman, Obasanjo said she joined the race for the party’s governorship ticket with a commitment to abide by any consensus arrangement adopted by the party.

She, however, alleged that the process that produced the party’s governorship candidate failed to meet the standards outlined by the APC for consensus selection.

“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,” she wrote.

She claimed that although she accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity, she was ignored during the meeting where the candidate was announced despite being “the most prominent opposition to the candidate chosen”.

“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… a candidate was announced. No one acknowledged my presence at the meeting,” she disclosed.

Obasanjo said she nevertheless wrote a letter accepting the consensus candidate on the same night because she believed party unity was paramount.

According to her, the candidate later met with her and her supporters, during which certain requests were presented. She alleged that despite a promise to respond within a week, no further communication was received.

“The consensus candidate called me the next morning and asked for a meeting with me and my followers, and we had that meeting about two weeks later,” she wrote.

And, added “Unless he gets back to me after I send this letter, he has not reached out to me after two months.”

Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola is the gubernatorial candidate of APC in Ogun state.

The former senator said the episode reflected a broader pattern of treatment she had received from the party despite her efforts to mobilise support for the APC across Ogun Central and other parts of the state.

“This is just part of the general treatment I have received from APC of disrespect and rejection as if I was not there making contributions that increased support for the party in Ogun Central and across the state,” she insisted.

Invoking a popular saying, Obasanjo declared that she could no longer remain in a political environment where she felt unwanted.

The former Senator declared “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 her grievances, Obasanjo expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the Ogun APC chairman and Ogun Central APC leaders for what she described as their personal warmth towards her.

“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,” the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo rounded off.