Former senator for Ogun central, Iyabo Obasanjo has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) — two months after losing the party’s governorship ticket in Ogun state.
The first daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to Yemi Sanusi, chairman of APC in Ogun.
She cited persistent disrespect from the leadership of the party and alleged breach of agreements by Solomon Adeola, the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Shortly after joining the APC in February, Iyabo indicated interest in the governorship race but later suspended her aspiration following the party’s consensus arrangement.
She, however, raised concerns on how the process was handled, alleging that some of her supporters were maltreated and denied entry to the meeting venue.
On April 28, Adeola met with Iyabo to seek her support ahead of the election, vowing not to let her down.
In her resignation letter, she recalled the challenges faced in the race and her pledge to abide by the party’s decision.
“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 said.
“When that day came, even as violence was perpetrated against my supporters to stop them from entering the venue, I maintained my calmness.
“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 given that I was the most prominent opposition to the candidate chosen and I had traversed the state mobilizing and encouraging grassroots APC support.”
Iyabo said despite her reservations, she accepted the outcome of the primaries based on her conviction that “party unity is important”.
“I wrote my letter accepting the party’s consensus candidate that night even with the flawed process,” she said.
The ex-federal lawmaker said during her meeting with Adeola after the primaries, her supporters made three requests, which she described as non-compulsory.
She, however, expressed disappointment that more than two months later, she was yet to receive any feedback from the Ogun west senator.
“At that meeting, my people made three requests which I said were not compulsory, but he should let me know so I would inform my people of his responses, and he said I should give him a week,” she said.
“Unless he gets back to me after I send this letter, he has not reached out to me after two months.
“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.
“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 welcomed. This is my resignation from the party.”
She thanked President Bola Tinubu and some APC leaders for the cordial relationship she enjoyed during her stint in the party.
“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,” she said.
