Iyabo Obasanjo Joins APC, Signals Interest in Ogun Governorship Ahead of 2027

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Feb 7, 2026 #APC Ogun State, #APC registration Ogun, #Iyabo Obasanjo, #Nigerian politics, #Ogun Central senator, #Ogun governorship 2027, #Ogun Politics, #Olusegun Obasanjo daughter

Segun Atanda/

Former Ogun Central senator, Professor Iyabo Obasanjo, has ruled out a return to the National Assembly, declaring that her renewed political ambition is focused on a possible bid for the Ogun State governorship.

Obasanjo, a daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, disclosed this on Saturday during an interview on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports.

During the programme, she confirmed her return to active partisan politics and announced her recent decision to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.

She said she had no intention of seeking appointment as a commissioner or contesting another term in the Senate, stressing that the governorship was the only office that would justify her return to politics.

“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. We are very serious and very dedicated to it,” she said.

The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health explained that her decision to re-enter politics followed sustained pressure from supporters who had been mobilising for her return over the past two years.

She said the group, which she did not organise herself, began urging her to contest after concluding that she was the best candidate.

Obasanjo said returning to the Peoples Democratic Party, on which platform she last contested an election, was not an option due to what she described as persistent internal crises within the party.

She added that the African Democratic Congress was also considered, but she had reservations about its level of preparedness.

According to her, the fact that those encouraging her political comeback are members of the APC influenced her decision to join the ruling party.

She described the APC as her “natural home”, saying she felt more comfortable with its key actors than with figures she previously worked with in other parties.

“I conducted extensive consultations before taking this step. I have no animosity towards anyone in the APC, and I feel confident and happy with my decision,” she said.

Although the APC has yet to issue an official statement on her membership, her move marks a return to frontline politics after about 15 years.

Reports indicate that Obasanjo recently took part in the APC’s ongoing electronic registration exercise at Ibogun, Ward 11, in Ifo Local Government Area, formally sealing her membership.

Obasanjo represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, having earlier served as commissioner for health under former governor Gbenga Daniel. She lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria.

After her defeat, she returned to the United States to pursue an academic career, eventually rising to the rank of professor.