Iyabo Obasanjo has cautioned that adopting a consensus candidate for the Ogun governorship race must not come at the expense of fairness and inclusivity within the party.
In a statement released on Thursday, the former governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) said she had long supported consensus as a strategy to reduce internal conflict and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I made it clear that I would abide by the outcome of any consensus arrangement, regardless of its direction, and I have remained true to that commitment.”
She confirmed that she congratulated the party’s consensus candidate, Solomon Adeola, and suspended her campaign immediately after the April 13 caucus meeting in Abeokuta.
However, Obasanjo raised concerns over how the process was handled, noting that some aspirants and their supporters were not properly recognised, despite their contributions to the party’s growth.
She also alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the meeting, with others reportedly assaulted.
“On the day of the meeting, some of my supporters were denied entry and, regrettably, two were physically assaulted by a party functionary. 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.”
Despite her reservations, she reaffirmed her loyalty to the APC and pledged support for both Adeola and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
She also urged party leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach moving forward, stressing that unity should go beyond consensus to include recognition and respect for all stakeholders.
