A former Ogun Central senator, former Commissioner for Health, and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned her membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing persistent disrespect, rejection, and unfair treatment by the party’s leadership in Ogun State.

Obasanjo, who recently contested for the party’s governorship ticket in the state, announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi. A copy of the letter was made available to journalists in the state capital.

The former lawmaker criticised the consensus process that produced Senator Adeola Solomon (Yayi) as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election, describing it as inconsistent with the APC’s guidelines.

According to her, although she had pledged 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 subjected to intimidation.

Despite her reservations, Iyabo Obasanjo said she accepted the party’s decision in the interest of unity and publicly congratulated Adeola on the night of his emergence.

She disclosed that the senator later contacted her and requested a meeting with her supporters, during which three requests were presented to him.

According to her, Adeola promised to respond within a week, but more than two months later, no feedback had been received.

She said the development reflected a broader pattern of disregard for her contributions to the party.

“I agreed to support whichever candidate emerged through a consensus process, but I was not consulted before Senator Adeola was presented as the consensus candidate. Some of my supporters were denied access to the venue and intimidated. Nevertheless, I accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Senator Adeola that same night,” she said.

“Following his emergence, Senator Adeola requested a meeting with my supporters. During that meeting, three requests were made, and he promised to respond within one week. More than two months later, no response has been received.”

“The treatment I have received since then has reflected a consistent pattern of rejection and disrespect. When disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcomed.”

She, however, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the Ogun APC Chairman, Chief Sanusi, and the Ogun Central Senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi for the support and courtesy extended to her while she remained in the party.

The former lawmaker returned to active politics earlier this year after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

She subsequently declared her intention to contest the Ogun governorship election under the All Progressives Congress.

Fresh controversy has erupted within the Surulere chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is attempting to impose a preferred candidate on party members ahead of the forthcoming primaries.

The development has sparked outrage among party stakeholders and supporters of Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliott, who accused powerful interests within the party of intimidation, political victimisation, and manipulation of the primary process.

In a statement issued by aggrieved stakeholders in Surulere, the group alleged that political structures within the constituency were being systematically reconfigured to favour a preferred aspirant allegedly backed by Gbajabiamila.

The stakeholders claimed that individuals perceived to be loyal to Elliott had become targets of political retaliation, including alleged removal from appointments and exclusion from party activities.

According to the statement, the situation has created anxiety and tension among party members ahead of the primaries.

The group further alleged that Elliott’s security personnel had been withdrawn under suspicious circumstances, raising concerns over his safety amid the escalating political crisis.

“Already, Desmond Elliott’s security details have been removed, putting his life at risk and in danger,” the statement alleged.

The controversy intensified after a viral video emerged showing Elliott openly accusing unnamed party leaders and local government officials of intimidation and coercion in the buildup to the primaries.

In the video, the lawmaker alleged that some local government officials had openly aligned themselves with a preferred aspirant long before the primaries.

“Intimidation, coercion, twisting and forcing people to follow their own candidate is what exists today in Surulere,” Elliott stated.

“Telling them that they will not be beneficiaries of some empowerment programme that is coming at another time — this is not right and should not happen,” he added.

The lawmaker also alleged that several individuals associated with him had lost their positions because of their political loyalty to him.

“We’ve been intimidated so much that a lot of people from the local government have been fired because they support me,” he claimed.

Elliott further disclosed that his security aides had allegedly been withdrawn without explanation.

“More so, my security personnel were taken away from me yesterday for reasons best known to them. Now I am left all by myself. What have I done?” he queried.

The Surulere lawmaker also alleged that certain individuals were planning to instigate violence during the primaries by bringing in outsiders to disrupt the exercise.

“They are coming out to fight us. They want to bring people from outside and from within to cause mayhem and trouble,” Elliott alleged while appealing for peaceful conduct during the primaries scheduled for May 20, 2026.

He called on party leaders and stakeholders to investigate the allegations and ensure that the primaries are conducted in a transparent and credible manner.

“I want to ask our party chieftains, please investigate this matter,” he appealed.

Despite his grievances, Elliott maintained that he remained loyal to the APC and would support whoever emerges victorious, provided the process is free and fair.

“By the grace of God, if I, Desmond Olusola Elliott, win, Alhamdulillah. If I lose, I will throw my support behind the winner. But please let it be through a free and fair election,” he said.

The lawmaker also urged his supporters not to be intimidated, insisting that adequate security would be available during the exercise.

Observers say the allegations have exposed deepening cracks within the Surulere APC and could further escalate tensions within the ruling party ahead of the primaries.