Iyabo Obasanjo returned to the PDP, winning the senatorial ticket

Former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo was on Wednesday officially admitted to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State after his recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was also given the Party’s senatorial ticket for Ogun Central ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Senator Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011.

He lost his re-election bid in 2011 and left the country to pursue a career in academia in the United States.

In January this year, Senator Obasanjo returned to active politics after 15 years and joined the ruling APC, where he declared his ambition to run for governor.

On 31 May, he resigned his membership of the APC after losing the governorship and rejoined his previous party, the PDP.

Senator Obasanjo was officially welcomed into the PDP at a general meeting held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta.

The reception was preceded by a procession through the main streets of Abeokuta by Senator Obasanjo, flanked by the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, his supporters, and PDP members from Ogun Central and other areas of the state.

PDP Chairman, Dr Abayomi Tella, handed over the PDP flag to Senator Obasanjo, welcomed him back to the party and announced him as the PDP candidate for Ogun Central in the next elections.

“On behalf of our National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, and the entire PDP National Working Committee, I, Abayomi Tella, PhD, PDP State Chairman, and on behalf of PDP Ogun Central, present to our esteemed sister, Prof. Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, this flag as the authority of the party for its nomination for the Senate in Ogun Central,” Tella said.

While taking the party oath, Senator Obasanjo pledged his fealty and allegiance to the PDP, its constitution, manifesto and code of ethics.

The former commissioner reiterated that he left the ruling party because of the disrespect, betrayal and unfair treatment of the APC leadership.

Send said the acts of disrespect and betrayal were fueled by people he had “aided and clothed” him politically.

He stated that he remains the candidate to beat in the next elections, saying he remains the best senator to represent Ogun Central.