Former senator representing Ogun Central, Iyabo Obasanjo, has officially returned to the Peoples Democratic Party after resigning from the All Progressives Congress, citing alleged disrespect, betrayal and unfair treatment by the ruling party.
Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was on Wednesday received by PDP leaders at a carnival-like event held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
At the event, the Ogun State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Abayomi Tella, supported by other party leaders, presented her with the party’s flag and announced her as the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central ahead of the 2027 elections.
The reception was preceded by a procession through major streets in Abeokuta, with Obasanjo accompanied by the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, her supporters and party members from Ogun Central and other parts of the state.
Presenting the party’s flag to her, Tella said the decision had the backing of the national leadership of the party.
“On behalf of our National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, and the entire National Working Committee of the PDP, I, Abayomi Tella, PhD, the State Chairman of the PDP, and on behalf of PDP Ogun Central, present to our revered sister, Prof. Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, this flag as the authority of the party for her candidature for the Senate in Ogun Central,” he said.
Taking the party’s oath, Obasanjo pledged loyalty and allegiance to the PDP, its constitution, manifesto and code of conduct.
“I commit myself to the ideals of the PDP. I shall serve the people of Ogun State and Nigeria with integrity, humility and dedication, prioritising their welfare above personal and sectional interests,” she declared.
Explaining her decision to leave the APC, Obasanjo said she was treated with disrespect by the party leadership despite her age, experience and past service to Ogun State.
“The APC treated me like a child whereas I will be 60 years by the grace of God next year,” she said.
She explained that she initially joined the APC because of the respect President Bola Tinubu had shown her over the years, adding that the President always treated her like a daughter whenever they met at public functions.
Speaking in Yoruba, she said she believed joining the President’s party would not be a bad idea because Yoruba people value honour and due regard.
“When I decided to go back into politics after about 20 years, I pitched my tent with the All Progressives Congress because of the way and manner the leader of the party and the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, usually honours me whenever I have the opportunity to be with him or when we meet at functions.
“The President is always treating me like his own daughter, so when it was time to go back to politics, I said that joining the party of the President won’t be a bad idea. And you know that Yoruba people cherish the fact that one is honoured and given his or her due regard; it is not all about money,” she said.
Obasanjo, however, alleged that things changed after she joined the party, claiming that the APC leadership failed to follow due process in the selection of its governorship candidate.
She said although she understood that the APC operated by consensus, she expected that all aspirants would be duly consulted before a final decision was made.
According to her, she had resolved to support whoever emerged through a proper consensus process, provided the laid-down rules were followed.
She alleged that instead of holding meetings with all aspirants, the party went ahead to raise the hand of one person as its preferred candidate.
“The party just went ahead to raise the hand of one of us. They actually treated me like a child whereas I will be 60 next year. I was a commissioner for four years and also a senator for another four years in this state of ours,” she said.
Obasanjo also alleged that some of the people who fuelled the disrespect against her were persons she had helped politically in the past.
She declared that she remained the candidate to beat in the coming senatorial election, insisting that she was the best senator to have represented Ogun Central.
Addressing the crowd, the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, promised that his administration, if elected, would ensure local government autonomy and prudent management of public funds.
“Our parents have taught us well, and I want to assure you that we won’t steal public funds. There shall be local government autonomy. The local government will receive their funds and deploy it to develop the grassroots.
“I, Oladipupo, son of Adebutu, won’t steal your money. Local governments will get their funds accordingly, and we shall be transparent in all our dealings,” he said.
Obasanjo had in January 2026 signalled her return to active politics when she registered as a member of the APC in Ward 11, Ibogun, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
However, she resigned from the ruling party last week Monday, citing rejection, maltreatment and lack of respect from the party leadership.
Her resignation was contained in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi.
Obasanjo, who served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health between 2003 and 2007 and senator representing Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011, had relocated to the United States after losing her bid to return to the Senate in 2011.
She stayed away from active politics for years until late last year, when billboards bearing her image appeared across Abeokuta with the inscription: “In Ogun State, we know ourselves. Sen (Prof) Iyabo Obasanjo. Omo wa ni, eniyan wa ni, ara wa ni.”
The post Iyabo Obasanjo Returns To PDP, Emerges Ogun Central Senatorial Candidate After Dumping APC Over Alleged Disrespect appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
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