Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has officially registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.
The registration reportedly took place at Ibogun Ward 11, Ifo Local Government, according to Hon. Biodun Ajayi, former chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government and a close associate of Obasanjo.
“I can confirm that Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo completed her online registration with our party on Tuesday,” Ajayi said.
The registration was also confirmed by a former House of Representatives member from the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Attempts to obtain an official response from the APC in Ogun State were inconclusive. Mr. Femi Nuberu, the party’s Director of Publicity, did not directly confirm or deny the report but noted that the ongoing membership drive welcomes all Nigerians aged 18 and above.
Obasanjo, an Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, has previously held political positions, including Commissioner for Health from 2003 to 2007 and Senator representing Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011.
Late last year, billboards featuring her name appeared across Abeokuta, sparking speculation about a possible political return ahead of the 2027 elections.
The billboards read: “In Ogun State, we know ourselves. Sen (Prof) Iyabo Obasanjo. Omo wa ni, eniyan wa ni, ara wa ni.” Analysts note that her decision to join the ruling party may surprise observers, given her father’s support for Peter Obi of the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election.
A source close to Obasanjo described the move as an expression of her independent political judgment. Obasanjo had earlier addressed the billboards, clarifying that they were put up by supporters and not a signal of her active pursuit of political office.
Speaking at the 70th birthday of Chief Mrs. Gloria Shoda, former National President of the National Council of Women Societies, she said, “Some people who have worked with me in the past came together and expressed support. I asked them to stop, as I am living well in the US, teaching at the university. But they insisted, saying it was a token of appreciation for my past work. I allowed them to continue.”
She added that any future political decision is guided by God and her supporters, noting that public encouragement is a reflection of past goodwill.
Born on April 27, 1967, Obasanjo trained as a veterinary doctor at the University of Ibadan. Following her unsuccessful 2011 re-election bid for the Senate, she returned to the United States to continue her academic career.
