Former senator representing Ogun Central, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has dismissed the possibility of returning to the Senate, stating that her political ambition is now focused on contesting the Ogun State governorship.
Obasanjo, a daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, disclosed this on Saturday during an interview on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports. During the interview, she confirmed her return to active partisan politics and announced her recent decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to her, she has no interest in serving as a commissioner or returning to her former political party, describing such moves as unnecessary. She stressed that a return to the Senate is also not under consideration.
She explained that from the onset of discussions about her political comeback, she made it clear to her associates that the only position she would seek is the governorship. Obasanjo added that preparations are already underway and that she and her supporters are fully committed to pursuing the goal.
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health revealed that her decision to return to politics was influenced by sustained encouragement from supporters who had been mobilising for her re-entry for about two years.
She noted that the group, which she did not personally assemble, approached her roughly a year ago, insisting that she was the right candidate and urging her to return to active politics.
Obasanjo recently formalised her membership of the APC by participating in the party’s e-registration exercise. Her registration was confirmed by Hon. Biodun Ajayi, a former chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government and her political ally, who disclosed that she completed her registration at Ibogun Ward 11 in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. The development was also confirmed by a former member of the House of Representatives.
Reacting to the move, the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party said it wished her well following reports of her defection to the ruling party.
Her return to frontline politics comes nearly 15 years after she stepped away following her tenure as senator from 2007 to 2011. Before her time in the Senate, Obasanjo served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health and later relocated to the United States to pursue an academic career.
