YAYI AND IYABO OBASANJO EXCHANGE WORDS OVER CAMPAIGN REFUND

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By: Muftau Fatimo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, and former APC governorship aspirant Senator Iyabo Obasanjo were embroiled in a war of words on Sunday over allegations that she demanded reimbursement for expenses incurred during her governorship campaign.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Odunaro, Adeola, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, alleged that Obasanjo claimed she defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he failed to fulfil a promise to refund her campaign expenses.

The senator described the alleged demand as insulting, saying it showed that the former Commissioner for Health, who has since defected to the PDP and emerged as the party’s Ogun Central senatorial candidate for the 2027 election, was interested in the state’s treasury rather than public service.

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

He said Obasanjo’s alleged demand showed that her entry into the 2027 governorship race was an investment she intended to recover rather than a mission to serve the people.

“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?” Adeola queried.

The APC governorship candidate said he visited Obasanjo as part of consultations and reconciliation efforts with party members because he regarded her as a respected Ogun indigene who was interested in governing the state, but later discovered that her interest was personal.

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

The senator further alleged 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 the time would come to reveal more details, saying her own public comments were sufficient to expose what he described as her political dishonesty.

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

He maintained that those challenging his candidacy would fail because they faced 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 had no valid legal standing as a political party.

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

Responding, Obasanjo described Adeola as “a liar” who lacked integrity.

She questioned why he allegedly continued to call her and later offered her money to remain in the APC if he considered the request for a refund insulting.

The epidemiologist said that during their last meeting, her political team made three requests, but Adeola neither fulfilled any of them nor got back to her.

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 inclusion of my people in his campaign.

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

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

“The three people that made the requests are…. I made no demands and I told him he didn’t have to do it all, but he should let me know what he would do,” she said.

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, before joining the PDP as its Ogun Central senatorial candidate for the 2027 election.

The United States-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology 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 had agreed 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 intimidated.

The 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.