Former Ogun governorship aspirant, Iyabo Obasanjo, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against sidelining party members in its consensus arrangement, insisting that inclusiveness must remain central to the process.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obasanjo said while she had long supported consensus as a strategy to avoid internal conflict and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections, it should not come at the expense of fairness to aspirants who stepped down.
“I have always advocated consensus as a way to minimise tension and unify the party, and I remain committed to respecting its outcome,” she said.
Obasanjo noted that in line with her stance, she congratulated the party’s consensus candidate, Solomon Adeola, following the April 13 caucus meeting in Abeokuta and immediately halted her campaign activities.
However, she expressed concern that the process failed to adequately recognise the contributions of other aspirants who had invested time, resources, and political capital before stepping aside in the interest of party unity.
She also alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the meeting venue, with at least two reportedly assaulted and later treated for injuries, an incident she said contradicts the party’s values.
According to her, while certain aspirants from a particular senatorial zone were acknowledged during the meeting, others, including herself and former Central Bank deputy governor Tunde Lemo, were overlooked despite extensive grassroots engagement across the state.
“If consensus is truly about unity, then it must reflect inclusiveness and give everyone a sense of belonging,” she stated.
Despite her reservations, Obasanjo reaffirmed her loyalty to the APC and pledged support for both Adeola and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
She urged party leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach moving forward, emphasizing that genuine unity requires recognition, mutual respect, and active engagement of all stakeholders.
“Consensus alone does not build unity; fairness and acknowledgment do,” she added, calling on the party to ensure that every contributor feels valued as preparations for future elections intensify.