Former President Obasanjo’s Daughter Accuses APC of Bullying and Intimidation After Withdrawing from Ogun Race

The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Ogun State governorship aspirant, Iyabo Obasanjo, has accused the All Progressives Congress of orchestrating a process marked by intimidation, exclusion, and physical assault against her supporters following her withdrawal from the party’s consensus arrangement for the 2027 election.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Obasanjo alleged that some of her supporters were denied entry into the venue of the APC caucus meeting held in Abeokuta on April 13, 2026, and that at least two of them were physically assaulted by a party functionary, an incident she said required medical attention.

“Some of my supporters were denied entry and regrettably, two were physically assaulted by a party functionary,” Obasanjo said in the statement. “While I chose not to escalate the situation in the interest of party unity, the incident required medical attention for those affected. Such occurrences do not reflect the values of discipline, order and mutual respect that our party represents.”

The meeting had produced Senator Solomon Adeola as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for Ogun State, an announcement made by Governor Dapo Abiodun. Obasanjo had initially accepted the outcome, congratulating Adeola and suspending her ambition in line with her earlier commitment to party unity.

However, days after stepping down, the former senator who represented Ogun Central from 2007 to 2011 has now raised serious concerns about how the process was handled, describing it as inconsistent with the ideals of fairness and inclusiveness that a consensus arrangement ought to embody.

Obasanjo noted that during her consultations ahead of the primaries, she had consistently advocated for consensus as a strategic pathway to reduce tension and prevent internal divisions within the party. But she said the implementation of the process in Ogun State fell short of expectations.

She also expressed disappointment that she and another aspirant, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, were not acknowledged during the proceedings, despite their presence at the venue and the extensive grassroots engagement they had conducted across the state.

“Other candidates across the state, including myself and Mr Tunde Lemo, who were present in the hall, were not acknowledged, despite our extensive consultations and the strong grassroots momentum we generated across Ogun state,” she said. “My campaign was built on direct engagement with party leaders, local government structures and ward members, an approach that energized our base across Ogun Central, Ogun East, and Ogun West.”

She further highlighted the role of her campaign organisation, the Iyaniwura Foundation, and thousands of supporters whose commitment she said deserved recognition as part of the party’s collective efforts.

Despite the grievances she voiced, Obasanjo firmly declared that she was not defecting from the APC and reaffirmed her loyalty to both the party and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“My loyalty to the APC remains unwavering. I am not defecting and I will continue to support the success of our party, including the candidacy of Senator Adeola,” she said. “I also reaffirm my support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration, which continues to deliver critical infrastructure and development to Ogun State.”

She urged party leaders at all levels to embrace a more inclusive approach going forward, warning that consensus alone is insufficient to achieve true unity.

“True unity is not achieved by consensus alone, but through recognition, respect and collective engagement,” Obasanjo said. “Going forward, I respectfully urge our party leadership at all levels to embrace a more inclusive approach, one that acknowledges the contributions of all aspirants and carries everyone along.”

Obasanjo concluded her statement with two Yoruba reflections, calling for fairness and shared purpose within the party. “Bi a ba dakẹ́, tiwa a dakẹ́” — If one remains silent, even their own may remain silent with them. “Bí a bá fẹ́ gba nkan lọwọ ọmọ, a gbọdọ̀ fi nkan rọ́pò rẹ̀” — Even when taking something from a child, one must offer something in return. “Let us move forward with fairness, inclusion, and shared purpose, so that every stakeholder feels valued in this journey toward victory,” she said.

Obasanjo’s allegations come amid growing discontent within the Ogun APC. Senator Gbenga Daniel had earlier protested his alleged exclusion from a caucus meeting in Ogun East, describing decisions taken at the gathering as invalid after he was reportedly denied entry. A viral video circulating online showed Daniel addressing supporters outside the venue after his convoy was blocked.

The developments have raised fresh concerns over internal cohesion within the Ogun APC as the party prepares for the 2027 general election, with observers watching to see how the leadership will address the grievances of aggrieved aspirants and their supporters.