Obasanjo’s daughter, Iyabo, declares for Ogun Governorship race

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared her intention to run for the 2027 Governorship race of Ogun State under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

She declared her intention on Saturday while featuring on an interactive programme on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports, anchored by Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami.

Daily Trust had reported how Iyabo returned to active politics after about 15 years and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ogun State.

Sources told our correspondent that Iyabo, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, participated in the ongoing APC e-registration exercise at Ibogun, Ward 11, in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, effectively sealing her membership of the ruling party.

The renowned epidemiologist and former Ogun State Commissioner for Health lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

She subsequently returned to the United States to pursue her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Speaking during the interview, the former senator confirmed that she is returning to politics after “pressure” from her supporters.

“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, I did not form them into a group, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she said.

The former commissioner said she could not return to the PDP, where she last contested for election, due to “all kinds of turmoil” in the party.

Iyabo hinted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was another option for her, but noted that the coalition party does not have its “ducks in a row yet; they’re still working on it.”

She explained that all those who reached out to her and were instrumental to her return to active politics are now in the APC.

The former senator said she made wide consultations before deciding to join the APC.

“So, I think APC is my natural home. I don’t have any animosity towards any individual or any group within the APC. I feel comfortable with all the actors I know within the APC.

“I feel more comfortable, actually, than with some of the actors I know in the PDP, and some of them are now in the ADC. So I think it’s my natural home. I feel quite confident and happy to have made that decision.

“I have an absolute 100% feeling it’s my natural home,” she said.

Asked on her ambition upon returning to active politics, Iyabo ruled out going back to the Senate, saying she is running for the state’s governorship seat.

“So moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate.

“Like the American would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.

“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it,” she said.

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