Iyabo Obasanjo quits APC, flaks leadership

A former governorship aspirant under platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 elections in Ogun State, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the party, citing alleged maltreatment by the party leadership.

The resignation of Obasanjo was contained in a letter dated May 31, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the party in Ogun State.

In the letter, she expressed her displeasure over how she has been treated inspite of her loyalty to the party and its leadership.

The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health recalled that when she joined the party at the early stage, she gave her words that she would always abide by the rules and regulations, which include the consensus arrangement, even when she was not carried along with the process.

Obasanjo, the representative of Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, described the State Chairman of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi, as a kind person, recalling that when she joined the party, he welcomed her and her supporters with open arms.

She wrote: “I want to thank you for your kindness and graciousness to me every time we have had an interaction. You welcomed me and my people into the party with open arms and I am grateful.

“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.

“When that day came even as violence was perpetuated 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 having meetings where all candidates agree to the candidate that will be announced, 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 grassroot APC support.

“Based on my conviction that party unity is important, I wrote my letter accepting the party’s consensus candidate that night even with the flawed process.

“The consensus candidate called me the next morning and asked for a meeting with me and my followers, and we had that meeting about 2 weeks later.

“At that meeting my people made 3 requests which I said were not compulsory but he should let me know so I would let my people know his responses and he said I should give him a week.

“Unless he gets back to me after.

“As I send this letter he has not reached out to me after 2 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.

“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.”