Ogun 2027: Yayi, Iyabo Obasanjo clash over campaign refund claim

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State for the 2027 election, Solomon Adeola and a former governorship aspirant of the party, Iyabo Obasanjo, traded accusations on Sunday over claims that she demanded a refund of expenses incurred during her governorship campaign.

Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, alleged that Obasanjo’s decision to leave the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party was linked to his failure to reimburse her campaign expenses, a claim she dismissed as false and described him as lacking integrity.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Chief Kayode Odunaro, Adeola said Obasanjo recently claimed she had no option but to join the PDP after he failed to fulfil a promise to refund expenses she incurred while seeking the APC governorship ticket.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation, said he considered the alleged demand unreasonable and argued that it suggested that Obasanjo and members of the opposition were motivated by personal interests rather than a genuine desire to serve Ogun State.

Adeola made the remarks while addressing members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (market leaders) in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, over the weekend.

Senator Solomon Adeola, the 2027 gov

He said that he found it insulting that Obasanjo was making such unreasonable demands from him, adding that such demands only showed that the former commissioner for health who had since pitched her tent with the PDP and picked the 2027 party’s senatorial ticket for Ogun Central, was only after the state’s treasury and never the genuine service and development of the state.

The senator reportedly told the market leaders that Obasanjo’s demand was not only personally insulting but also suggested that her return to the 2027 governorship race earlier this year, after about 15 years away from active politics, was driven by an investment motive rather than a genuine desire to serve the people.

Adeola said, “Their intention is driven by personal interest and not the interest of Ogun State. Their intention is clear. They don’t mean well for our dear state. They are bitter. They are looking for the state purse.

“One of them said I offended her. She said I reneged on promises. She said she joined the governorship race and failed and wanted me to refund her expenses — that I should refund her dollars and naira. Did I ask her to join the governorship race?”

The APC governorship candidate said he visited Obasanjo as part of his consultation and reconciliation efforts with party members, adding that he believed she was a respected indigene of Ogun State who genuinely wanted to govern the state, but later concluded that her interest was driven by personal gain.

Adeola said, “Asking me to refund you or pay back what you have expended on this electioneering campaign is insulting to me. Now you have left the party. You left the party not because the party wronged you. You left the party because you were offered money.

“You are not a party person. You just want to cash in, and you are being paid. You don’t mean well for Ogun State. They are there in their numbers looking for the purse of Ogun State.”

The senator told the market leaders that after failing to secure what she wanted from him and the APC, Obasanjo turned to the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar personal benefits.

He added that he would disclose more details at the appropriate time, saying his remarks and Obasanjo’s statements had exposed what he described as her political dishonesty.

Adeola also addressed the legal challenge against his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, alleging that the same political opponents were behind the suit.

He expressed confidence that those challenging his candidacy would fail, adding that they were also confronted with more fundamental legal hurdles.

“Based on existing legal provisions and court judgments, politicians who defected to another political party after May 10, 2026, are not qualified to contest the forthcoming election.

“We all know when these people left the APC for the PDP. By law, anyone who crossed over after May 10, 2026, is only wasting his or her time. We are waiting for them,” he said.

Adeola also claimed that the PDP currently lacked legal recognition due to ongoing disputes within the party.

He said, “I make bold to say they don’t exist for now. They still have two factions that are in court and no one is recognised. It can go either way in the days ahead.”

However, Obasanjo, in her reaction, described Adeola as “a liar” and a politician lacking integrity, arguing that his claim contradicted his alleged efforts to persuade her not to leave the APC.

She said if Adeola considered the request for reimbursement insulting, he would not have repeatedly contacted her after her resignation from the APC or allegedly offered her money to remain in the party.

She explained that during their last meeting with the senator, her political team requested three things, but Adeola failed to grant any of them or provide feedback.

She said, “My supporters asked the senator for three things. The first is the Senate seat, the second is the refund of what I spent, and the third is the inclusion of my people in his campaign.

“I told him that whatever he came back with on these demands, I would explain to them. He did none of the three and didn’t even speak to me again until he tried to call me after I left the party. I did not pick up, and he offered me money.

“If he thought it was insulting, why did he offer me money not to leave the party? He has no integrity and is a liar.

“The three people who made the requests are Hon Aroyeun, Chief Toyin Jokosenumi and Hon Biodun Ajayi. I made no demands. I told him he did not have to do everything, but he should let me know what he would do.”

Obasanjo had in January signalled her return to active politics when she registered as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

She later resigned from the party, citing rejection, maltreatment and lack of respect from its leadership in a letter dated May 31 addressed to the APC state chairman.

She subsequently joined the PDP as its Ogun Central senatorial candidate for the 2027 election.

The United States-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology had criticised the consensus process that produced Adeola as the APC governorship candidate, describing it as inconsistent with the party’s guidelines.

According to her, although she pledged to abide by any consensus arrangement adopted by the party, she was neither consulted nor involved in the process before Adeola was announced as the consensus candidate.

She also alleged that some of her supporters were prevented from entering the venue where the candidate was unveiled and were subjected to intimidation.

Obasanjo, a former commissioner for health (2003–2007) and senator representing Ogun Central (2007–2011), relocated to the United States in 2011 after losing her re-election bid.

She remained largely inactive in politics until late last year when her billboards resurfaced across Abeokuta, signalling her political comeback.(Punch)