The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 election in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, and former APC governorship aspirant, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, have traded accusations over claims that she demanded reimbursement for expenses incurred during her governorship campaign.
Adeola, popularly known as Yayi and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, alleged that Obasanjo left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he refused to refund the money she spent on her governorship ambition.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Odunaro, the senator described the alleged request as “insulting,” arguing that it suggested that Obasanjo was more interested in accessing the state treasury than serving the people of Ogun State.
Speaking while addressing the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Adeola claimed that Obasanjo’s participation in the 2027 governorship race was driven by personal interests.
“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,” Adeola said.
“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?”
The senator said he had initially reached out to Obasanjo as part of reconciliation efforts within the party because he believed she genuinely sought to govern the state, but later concluded that her motivations were 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,” he added.
Adeola further alleged that after failing to secure concessions from him and the APC, Obasanjo shifted her attention to the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar benefits.
The APC governorship candidate also addressed ongoing legal challenges to his emergence, claiming that political opponents were behind the suits.
According to him, politicians who defected to another political party after May 10, 2026, would be ineligible to contest the forthcoming election.
“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 questioned the legal standing of the PDP, alleging that internal disputes had left the opposition party divided.
“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.
However, Obasanjo dismissed Adeola’s claims, describing him as “a liar” and accusing him of lacking integrity.
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health questioned why Adeola allegedly continued to contact her and later offered her money to remain in the APC if he truly considered any request for reimbursement offensive.
According to her, members of her political team presented three demands during their last meeting with the senator: support for her senatorial ambition, reimbursement of campaign expenses and the inclusion of her supporters in Adeola’s campaign structure.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Obasanjo maintained that the requests were made by members of her political camp and not by her personally, adding that she had expected Adeola to indicate which of the demands he was willing to accommodate.
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The United States-based epidemiologist returned to active politics in January after registering as an APC member in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
However, she resigned from the party in May, citing rejection, maltreatment and lack of respect by the APC leadership before subsequently joining the PDP, where she emerged as the party’s candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 election.
Obasanjo also criticised the consensus arrangement that produced Adeola as the APC governorship candidate, arguing that the process violated party guidelines because she and her supporters were neither consulted nor allowed to participate fully in the exercise.
The former senator, who represented Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011, had largely stayed away from politics after relocating to the United States following her unsuccessful re-election bid in 2011.
Her political comeback became evident late last year when campaign billboards bearing her image appeared across Abeokuta, fuelling speculation about her renewed political ambitions.
