Dare Babalola
Former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Iyabo Obasanjo, has called on party leaders to ensure fairness and inclusiveness in the adoption of a consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obasanjo said while she supports the consensus arrangement as a strategy to maintain unity within the party, it must not overlook the contributions of other aspirants who stepped down in the interest of cohesion.
She noted that during her consultations ahead of the primaries, she consistently advocated consensus as a means of avoiding internal crises and strengthening the party’s chances in the next election cycle.
“I made it clear that I would abide by the outcome of any consensus arrangement, regardless of its direction, and I have remained true to that commitment,” she said.
Obasanjo disclosed that she demonstrated her loyalty to the party by congratulating the consensus candidate, Solomon Adeola, following the APC caucus meeting held on April 13, 2026, in Abeokuta, and subsequently halted her campaign activities.
Despite her support, she expressed concern that the process did not adequately recognise all aspirants, stressing that consensus should not come at the expense of inclusiveness or fairness.
The former senator also raised alarm over the alleged mistreatment of some of her supporters during the caucus meeting, claiming that a few were denied access and physically assaulted.
“On the day of the meeting, some of my supporters were denied entry and, regrettably, two were physically assaulted by a party functionary. Such occurrences do not reflect the values of discipline, order, and mutual respect that our party represents,” she stated.
Obasanjo further lamented that while certain aspirants were acknowledged during the meeting, others, including herself and Dr. Tunde Lemo, were not recognised despite their extensive engagement across the state.
“During the proceedings, acknowledgement was given to certain aspirants who stepped down. However, other candidates across the state, including myself and Mr Tunde Lemo were not acknowledged,” she said.
She emphasised that her campaign had built significant grassroots support across Ogun Central, Ogun East, and Ogun West, adding that such efforts deserved recognition as part of the party’s collective progress.
Notwithstanding her reservations, Obasanjo reaffirmed her commitment to the APC and pledged to support both Adeola’s candidacy and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“That said, my loyalty to the APC remains unwavering. I am not defecting, and I will continue to support the success of our party,” she affirmed.
She urged party leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach moving forward, stressing that unity should be built on recognition and mutual respect.
“Going forward, I respectfully urge our party leadership at all levels to embrace a more inclusive approach. True unity is not achieved by consensus alone, but through recognition, respect, and collective engagement,” she added.
Obasanjo concluded with a call for fairness and shared purpose, encouraging stakeholders to ensure that all contributions are valued as the party prepares for future elections.
