Daughter of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Registers with APC in Ogun State
In a significant political development ahead of the 2027 general elections, Prof Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has reportedly completed her registration as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. This move has generated widespread political speculation and analysis across Nigeria's political landscape.
Registration Confirmed at Ibogun Ward 11
According to multiple sources, the registration took place at Ibogun Ward 11 in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. Hon. Biodun Ajayi, a former chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government and close political associate of the Obasanjo family, confirmed the development to journalists.
"I can confirm to you that Prof Iyabo Obasanjo on Tuesday, at Ibogun Ward 11 of Ifo Local Government, completed her online registration as a member of our great party, the All Progressives Congress," Ajayi stated.
An anonymous former member of the House of Representatives from the area also verified the registration, describing the information as accurate and noting that it followed the party's ongoing membership drive in Ogun State.
APC Leadership Maintains Strategic Silence
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the APC leadership in Ogun State proved inconclusive. The party's Director of Publicity, Mr Femi Nuberu, declined to specifically confirm or deny Obasanjo's reported registration while emphasizing the openness of the APC's membership registration exercise.
"Our membership drive is open to every Nigerian aged 18 and above," Nuberu stated, without directly addressing the specific case of Prof Iyabo Obasanjo's reported political move.
Background of Political Speculation
Speculation about Obasanjo's return to active politics intensified late last year when campaign-style billboards bearing her name appeared in parts of Abeokuta. The billboards featured the message: "In Ogun state, we know ourselves. Sen (Prof) Iyabo Obasanjo. Omo wa ni, eniyan wa ni, ara wa ni."
This development fueled extensive debate about her political future, with many observers expecting her to either return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Last year, the Ogun State Chairman of the ADC, Otunba Femi Soluade, publicly stated that the party was open to receiving her if she expressed interest.
Obasanjo's Previous Explanations and Current Position
Prof Iyabo Obasanjo, an Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, has previously addressed the billboards, insisting they were erected by supporters and did not signal an active political ambition. Speaking at the 70th birthday celebration of Chief Mrs Gloria Shoda, former National President of the National Council of Women Societies, she explained the situation.
"There are some people who have worked with me in the past. They came together and said, 'This is who we like.' I told them to stop it, that I am living a good life. I live in the US, I teach at the university, and I am fine," she said during the event.
She added, "They said stopping them would dampen their enthusiasm. So I have allowed them. Nobody can say I am actively campaigning for anything, but I have given these people the go-ahead."
Political Analysis and Family Dynamics
Political analysts have noted that Obasanjo's reported move to the APC comes as a surprise, given her father's perceived distance from the ruling party. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly supported Labour Party candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, creating an interesting political contrast within the family.
However, sources close to the former senator indicate that her decision reflects independent political thinking rather than family alignment. "She has always charted her own political course," one source emphasized, highlighting her history of making autonomous political decisions.
Broader Political Context
This development occurs within a broader context of political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Recently, Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, described the decision of Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to join the APC as "courageous and ideological." Abba was received into the ruling party in Abuja on January 15, having resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The registration of Prof Iyabo Obasanjo with the APC in Ogun State represents another significant development in Nigeria's evolving political landscape as parties position themselves for the 2027 general elections.
