Ogun 2027: I’m Not Running on My Father’s Platform, Says Iyabo Obasanjo

In a move to assert her political independence, former Senator and Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared that her 2027 governorship ambition is purely self-driven and not an extension of her father’s political machinery.

Addressing newsmen at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, the former lawmaker sought to decouple her candidacy from the towering shadow of her father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Responding to questions about her father’s role in her sudden political resurgence, Dr. Obasanjo was emphatic that the elder statesman is not the architect of her current platform.

“My father is just another Nigerian who will vote for me. He has not presented any platform for me and has not influenced my decision in any way,” she stated.

She explained that her decision to contest for the APC ticket was inspired by years of appeals from residents of Ogun State and political associates who believe she has the experience to lead the Gateway State.

Dr. Obasanjo noted that while she has been away from active politics for some time, her track record as a former Health Commissioner and Senator remains her strongest selling point. She dismissed the notion that she is relying on “name recognition” alone, emphasizing that she is back to serve based on her own convictions

Despite her father’s historically complex relationship with various political administrations, Iyabo signaled her full alignment with the current national leadership. She pledged that her campaign would focus on industrial growth, science, and technology, working in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda to ensure an APC victory in Ogun State.