Former Senator representing Ogun Central, Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, expressing strong confidence in her chances of emerging victorious.
Obasanjo made the declaration on Wednesday while speaking on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu.
“I’m going to win,” she said during the programme. “The position I’m going to run for is governor, and I believe it fits the skills I bring to the table. As Ogun citizens, I hope that when I’m governor, I will touch your life either directly or indirectly in a way that will improve your lives.”
Returning to active politics after about 15 years, Obasanjo recently joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, and said she is prepared to contest the party’s ticket alongside other aspirants.
Reflecting on her experience as Ogun Central Senator between 2007 and 2011 and her earlier role as Ogun State Commissioner for Health, she maintained that her background in public service has equipped her with the capacity to lead the state effectively.
On the issue of political loyalty and structure building, she took a swipe at what she described as opportunistic politics.
“Politics is not about hopping from one state to another just because it offers an advantage,” she said. “You have to build structures, connect with the people, and grow with them. Opportunists move around, picking what benefits them, but that is not how sustainable leadership is built.”
Speaking on her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Obasanjo said her decision followed years of what she described as neglect and lack of appreciation for her contributions.
“They only reached out to me when they needed my support to garner votes during elections. It was like they forgot all the years of work I put in, only remembering me when it suited their immediate political goals,” she said. “I found that frustrating, and frankly, I thought it was foolish for a party to ignore the people who have dedicated themselves to building its foundation.”
She added, “They never contacted me at the right time, never valued my insight, and yet expected me to deliver results for them during campaigns. That kind of opportunism is what ultimately pushed me to look elsewhere. I had to ask myself, do I want to remain in a system where I am only seen as useful when convenient, or do I take my experience and my work directly to the people who need it? It was clear to me that I could not continue under those conditions.”
On the debate surrounding power rotation to Ogun West, Obasanjo said while the zone has not produced a governor in decades, leadership should not be reduced to sentiment.
“The reason we have not had a governor from Ogun West cannot be blamed on Ogun Central. Leadership must be fair, inclusive, and based on competence, not convenience or sentiment,” she stated.
Addressing concerns about gender, she said her ambition is driven by service and competence rather than identity politics.
“I try not to use gender in this because I know the sentiment for people in the West is very high, and I am sensitive to their cry and understand it,” she said, adding that she would support the emergence of a governor from Ogun West after her tenure.
Obasanjo acknowledged that entering the race at this stage comes with challenges.
“I’m coming in with two disadvantages, time, because I came in a little late, and money. But I don’t believe money makes elections. People know who will do right by them, and that is my confidence,” she said.
On securing the APC ticket, she expressed optimism. “I’m as confident as anybody. Everyone is politicking, and I have every right to compete. It’s not 100 percent for anyone, but I will do everything to make sure I am the candidate.”
