Iyabo Obasanjo Bows Out of Ogun Guber Race as APC Adopts Yayi as Consensus Candidate

Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has formally withdrawn from the 2027 governorship race in Ogun State following the adoption of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

Obasanjo announced her decision in a personally signed statement on Monday, April 13, 2026, shortly after Governor Dapo Abiodun declared Adeola as the party’s preferred flagbearer during a strategic caucus meeting held at the APC secretariat on Abiola Way in Abeokuta. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, and Ibikunle Amosun, as well as the state party chairman, Yemi Sanusi.

“I congratulate him and wish him every success,” Obasanjo said in her statement. “I also thank the state and national leaders of our great party for the opportunity to participate in the nomination process.” She added, “Based on these developments, I have decided to suspend my gubernatorial aspiration.”

The former senator representing Ogun Central expressed deep gratitude to her supporters across the state for their loyalty throughout her consultation and mobilisation efforts. “To my supporters across Ogun State, I am deeply grateful for your calm, steadfast support and unwavering trust throughout this journey. Together, we move forward with patience, strength and hope,” she said.

Senator Adeola, who currently represents Ogun West in the 10th Senate and chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has in recent years shifted his political base from Lagos to Ogun. In his acceptance speech, he pledged not to let the party down. “I know the vision for this state. I know how passionate and how central this state is to the federal republic of Nigeria,” Adeola said. “I promise to retain and maintain the unity, peace and progress that have taken place in Ogun State for the last three years and beyond. I can assure you, I will not derail.”

Governor Abiodun, who announced the consensus arrangement, urged other governorship aspirants to rally around Adeola and allow the party’s interest to supersede any other. The state party chairman, Yemi Sanusi, said the meeting was called to preserve the unity of the party both before, during, and after the primaries, underscoring the need for a rancour-free process.

Political observers note that the consensus candidacy, while often controversial, is frequently used by major parties in Nigeria to streamline the nomination process and avoid costly and divisive primaries. Obasanjo’s withdrawal removes a notable name from the race given her political lineage and visibility within the state, effectively narrowing the field and reinforcing Adeola’s position as the party’s leading contender for the 2027 governorship poll.