IYABO OBASANJO CONFIRMS MEMBERSHIP IN APC, DESCRIBES PARTY AS ‘NATURAL HOME’

A former member of the National Assembly, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, has confirmed her membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, marking her return to active partisan politics after about 15 years.

Obasanjo-Bello, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, made the disclosure on Saturday during an interview with Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports, monitored in Abeokuta.

The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo described the APC as her “natural home,” explaining that her decision to re-enter politics was driven by sustained pressure from her supporters.

According to her, a group of supporters—whom she said she neither formed nor organised—had been urging her for about two years to return to the political space and contest elections.

“As I told you, a group of people whom I did not bring together, I did not form them into a group, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she said.

Iyabo Obasanjo explained that returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform she last contested, was not an option due to what she described as the party’s persistent internal crises.

She revealed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was also considered but ruled out, citing concerns about the party’s preparedness.

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

She said she carried out extensive consultations before formally aligning with the APC.

“I think APC is my natural home. I don’t have any animosity towards any individual or any group within the APC. I feel comfortable with all the actors I know within the APC.

“I feel more comfortable, actually, than with some of the actors I know in the PDP, and some of them are now in the ADC. So I think it’s my natural home. I feel quite confident and happy to have made that decision.

“I have an absolute 100 per cent feeling it’s my natural home,” she added.

Although the APC has yet to issue an official statement on her defection, the development comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with speculations that she may join the Ogun State governorship race.

There were reports that she participated in the APC’s ongoing e-registration exercise at Ibogun, Ward 11, Ifo Local Government Area, formally sealing her membership of the party.

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello previously served as Commissioner for Health in Ogun State under former Governor Gbenga Daniel before her election to the Senate.

She lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Following her defeat, she returned to the United States, where she pursued an academic career and later rose to the rank of professor.