Iyabo Obasanjo Joins APC in Ogun State Amid 2027 Election Speculations

In a surprising political move, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, the daughter of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has reportedly registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. This development has sparked widespread discussions among political analysts and observers, especially with the 2027 general elections on the horizon.

The confirmation came from Hon. Biodun Ajayi, a former chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government and a known ally of the Obasanjo family. Speaking to journalists, Ajayi stated, “I can confirm to you that Prof Iyabo Obasanjo on Tuesday at Ibogun Ward 11 of Ifo Local Government, completed her online registration as member of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”

A former member of the House of Representatives from the area, who preferred to remain anonymous, also corroborated the report, describing the registration as accurate. Efforts to obtain an official response from the APC leadership in Ogun State yielded mixed results. The party’s Director of Publicity, Mr. Femi Nuberu, neither confirmed nor denied the development but emphasized that the ongoing membership drive is open to all Nigerians aged 18 and above.

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, an Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, in the United States, is no stranger to Nigerian politics. She previously served as the Ogun State Commissioner for Health from 2003 to 2007 and represented Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate from 2007 to 2011 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner. Her political comeback has been hinted at since late last year when campaign billboards bearing her image surfaced across Abeokuta. The billboards carried the message: “In Ogun State, we know ourselves. Sen (Prof) Iyabo Obasanjo. Omo wa ni, eniyan wa ni, ara wa ni,” which translates to “She is our child, our person, our own.”

Political pundits had speculated that Iyabo might rejoin her former party, the PDP, or align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Last year, the Ogun State ADC Chairman, Otunba Femi Soluade, publicly stated that the party was willing to welcome her if she expressed interest. However, her decision to join the ruling APC has caught many off guard, particularly given her father’s well-known stance against the party. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo openly supported Peter Obi of the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election.

A source close to the former senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed her move to independent political thinking, distancing it from her father’s influence. This aligns with Iyabo’s past statements where she has emphasized her autonomy in political decisions.

Addressing the billboards in a previous interview with Remo TV during the 70th birthday celebration of Chief Mrs. Gloria Shoda, former National President of the National Council of Women Societies, Iyabo clarified that they were erected by her supporters without her direct involvement. “There are some people who have worked with me in the past. They came together and said, ‘This is who we like.’ I told them to stop it—that I am living a good life. I live in the US, I teach at the university, and I am fine,” she said.

She added, “However, people told me to let them be, after all, they are not asking me for money. They said it was a sign of love and that I did well while in politics. They said stopping them would dampen their enthusiasm. So I have allowed them. Nobody can say I am actively campaigning for anything, but I have given these people the go-ahead.” Iyabo further noted that the calls for her return to politics underscore the principle that “if you do good, people will come back,” leaving any future moves to divine intervention and her supporters’ will.

Born on April 27, 1967, Iyabo Obasanjo trained as a veterinary doctor at the University of Ibadan before venturing into public health and politics. Her 2011 bid for re-election to the Senate was unsuccessful, after which she relocated to the United States to focus on her academic career.

This latest development has ignited social media conversations, with many viewing it as a strategic positioning for the 2027 gubernatorial race in Ogun State. As the political landscape evolves, all eyes will be on how this move impacts the dynamics within the APC and the broader Ogun State politics.