Iyabo Obasanjo Joins Ogun Governorship Race

Iyabo Obasanjo Joins Ogun Governorship Race

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday formally declared her intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking with journalists during a visit to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Iyabo confirmed that she had officially joined the ruling party and had put herself forward for its governorship ticket in Ogun State.

“As you must have read in the news, I’ve joined APC. As a card-carrying member, I have also put myself in the ring to be nominated by the party as the governorship candidate for APC in Ogun State,” she said.

The former senator and ex-Commissioner for Health in Ogun State explained that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters and stakeholders in the state.

“I’ve not participated in active politics for a lot of years now, but of course, the reason I’m back in politics is because people in Ogun State really asked for my return,” she said, adding that many of her longtime supporters are now members of the APC.

Iyabo expressed confidence that she would clinch the party’s ticket and go on to win the general election, pledging to govern in a way that would strengthen the APC in Ogun State and nationally.

She pointed to her past record in public office as the foundation of her renewed ambition, recalling her achievements as Commissioner for Health and as a senator. According to her, the goodwill generated from those years has made mobilization easier.

“If you know my efforts when I was Commissioner for Health, we did a lot of good things, and the goodwill from my time in the Senate and as Commissioner is what is making it so easy to mobilize,” she said.

Highlighting gender inclusion, Iyabo noted that Nigeria has never had an elected female governor and said she entered the race fully aware of that reality. She, however, expressed optimism that the APC’s support for greater female representation in politics could change the narrative.

“We’ve never had an elected female governor in Nigeria, and I joined this race fully in the knowledge of that,” she said. “I am confident that if there’s a time for a woman to emerge, this is the time.”

She cited global examples, including Rwanda’s high percentage of women in political offices due to reserved seats, and said similar reforms being supported by the APC give her confidence that the party could produce Nigeria’s first elected female governor.

Drawing from her background as a research professor, Iyabo said her focus would be on health, education, science and technology, agriculture, and transportation if elected. She stressed the importance of science and ICT education in preparing young people for innovation-driven careers.

On infrastructure, she applauded the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, noting that improved transport links would ease congestion in Ogun State, which serves as a gateway for travellers heading east and north from Lagos.

Addressing questions about her father’s influence on her political choice, Iyabo was emphatic that her decision to join the APC was personal.

“He is not part of my coming here today. It’s my personal decision. He is just another citizen that will vote for me,” she said.

She explained that many of the political associates who encouraged her return are now in the APC, which influenced her choice of platform.

On concerns about zoning and whether the governorship ticket might be micro-zoned to Ogun West, Iyabo said she believes the race is open and competitive.

“For me, I’m joining the race because I think it’s open. Nothing is impossible. I’ve been in politics, so I’m not naive,” she said.

While acknowledging the long-standing agitation for Ogun West to produce a governor, she said every zone deserves a fair chance. However, she argued that the party must field a candidate capable of winning across all three senatorial districts.

“A woman has never been governor, and that is also important to the women of Nigeria,” she said, adding that she believes she has the capacity to build broad support across the state.

Iyabo concluded by expressing hope that if elected, she would serve two terms and then step aside to allow others to contribute, describing politics as a service that citizens can enter and exit.

“My hope is that I will be a two-term governor, that will leave and let other people come in and serve,” she said.