By Ghazali Ibrahim
A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has raised concerns over what she described as lapses in inclusiveness during the selection process while throwing her support for the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the consensus candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state.
Obasanjo, in a statement following the April 13, 2026 Ogun APC caucus meeting where Adeola emerged as the consensus candidate, said she had honoured her earlier pledge to abide by the outcome of the arrangement. She disclosed that she immediately suspended her campaign activities and congratulated Adeola after the announcement.
While reiterating her support for the party and its candidate, the former aspirant noted that the process fell short of the ideals of fairness and inclusion that consensus is meant to promote. She alleged that some of her supporters were denied entry into the venue of the meeting, with two reportedly assaulted by a party functionary, an incident she said required medical attention.
Obasanjo also expressed dissatisfaction over what she termed a lack of recognition for some aspirants present at the meeting, including herself and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, despite their statewide consultations and grassroots mobilization.
She maintained that her campaign had significantly energized party structures across Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West, with support from political stakeholders and loyalists, contributions she believes should have been acknowledged as part of the party’s collective effort.
Despite her reservations, Obasanjo reaffirmed her commitment to the APC, ruling out any possibility of defection. She pledged continued support for Adeola’s candidacy and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, citing ongoing infrastructure and development efforts in Ogun State.
The former aspirant, however, urged party leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach in future processes, stressing that true unity goes beyond consensus to include recognition, respect and active engagement of all stakeholders.
She added that her supporters remain ready to contribute to the party’s success ahead of future elections, noting that their experience and network remain valuable assets for the APC in Ogun State.
