Photo: Obasanjo’s Family Split Over Ogun APC, PDP Governorship Candidates

Two sons of former President Olusegun Obasanjo have endorsed the 2027 governorship ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

The endorsement came despite the recent exit of their sister, former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, from the APC following Adeola’s emergence as the party’s governorship candidate.

Adeola announced on Friday that Olugbenga Obasanjo and Olujuwon Obasanjo visited him at his Abeokuta residence to express support for his governorship bid.

“I was honoured to receive two great scions of our father and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, in my residence in Abeokuta earlier today,” Adeola wrote on his verified Facebook page.

“Dr Olugbenga Obasanjo and Mr Olujuwon Obasanjo visited me to commend my sterling performance in governance and to pledge their unalloyed support for my aspiration as the APC gubernatorial candidate for Ogun 2027. Much appreciation to the two brothers. Omo Ogun Iseya.”

Family split

Adeola’s endorsement by the two Obasanjo sons comes weeks after he emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

His emergence positioned him as the ruling party’s preferred candidate to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun.

However, the backing from Olugbenga and Olujuwon contrasts with the position of their sister, Iyabo Obasanjo, who had also sought the APC governorship ticket.

Iyabo criticised the process that produced Adeola, alleging that it violated party guidelines and that she was sidelined despite agreeing to a consensus arrangement.

On June 8, she resigned from the APC, citing persistent disrespect and unfair treatment by the party leadership.

Reports later indicated that she had concluded plans to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where she previously built much of her political career.

She has also endorsed the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Ladi Adebutu.

Obasanjo silent

Former President Obasanjo has not publicly endorsed Adeola’s governorship ambition.

Although his sons have declared support for the senator, there is no indication that they were speaking on behalf of their father.

The former president has, over the years, maintained a distance from the APC and has rarely publicly supported candidates of the ruling party during elections.

On Thursday, Obasanjo visited Kano, Obasanjo visited Kano where he met with Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), fuelling renewed political speculation ahead of the 2027 elections. Neither side disclosed details of their discussions.

Mr Adeola, who currently represents Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate, previously represented Lagos West in the Senate between 2015 and 2023 after serving in the House of Representatives.