Former Ogun State Commissioner for Health and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo Obasanjo, has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), barely a week after resigning from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development became evident on Monday when the former senator made a surprise appearance at the official unveiling of the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate, Lateefah Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.
Her arrival sparked jubilation among party members and supporters, who welcomed her with chants and solidarity songs.
The atmosphere turned celebratory as supporters crowded around the former APC governorship aspirant, eager to greet her and express support for her return to the opposition party.
Addressing party faithful at the event, Obasanjo expressed confidence that the PDP would no longer be denied victory in future elections.
The former commissioner assured supporters that the era of what she described as the theft of the mandate of the PDP governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, had come to an end.
She also informed her supporters that formal arrangements for her official defection to the PDP would be concluded in the coming days.
The PDP further strengthened speculation about her political future by announcing Obasanjo as its candidate for the Ogun Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming elections.
Obasanjo’s return to the PDP comes months after she defected to the APC in January and declared her intention to contest the Ogun State governorship election. At the time, she accused the PDP of sidelining prominent party members and failing to engage them except during election periods.
“I think they’re idiots, if you can put it that way. And I think they’re idiots because if elections are about people and if you don’t reach out to the people that are prominent in your party, how do you win elections? You can’t,” she had said while explaining her decision to leave the PDP.
Her move to the APC marked her return to active politics after about 15 years away from the political scene.
However, the relationship between Obasanjo and the APC quickly deteriorated following the party’s governorship primary process.
Last Monday, she announced her resignation from the ruling party after failing to secure its governorship ticket.
In her resignation remarks, the renowned epidemiologist accused the APC leadership in Ogun State of disrespecting and maltreating her, saying she felt rejected by the party she had joined only months earlier.
Her latest political realignment is expected to boost the PDP’s campaign efforts ahead of the elections, particularly in Ogun Central, where she remains a prominent political figure with considerable influence.
