Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has formally declared her intention to run for governor of Ogun State in the 2027 general elections.
She made the announcement during an interview on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports with Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Iyabo Obasanjo confirmed that she has returned fully to partisan politics after several years away from active political engagement and has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where she has completed her party registration.
Ruling out any plan to seek reelection to the Senate or pursue other offices, she stated unequivocally that her sole focus is the governorship race. “The only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship. And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. That’s the journey I’m on, and we are very serious about it. I mean, we are very dedicated to it,” she said.
Iyabo Obasanjo previously served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health from 2003 to 2007 under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. She later represented Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate from 2007 to 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Beyond her political career, she is widely recognized for her humanitarian work through the Iyaniwura Foundation, which she founded to provide health services, education support, and social interventions to vulnerable communities across Ogun State and other parts of Nigeria.
Her declaration has already begun to attract early endorsements from traditional institutions in Ogun State. Several traditional rulers and community leaders have reportedly expressed support for her candidacy, citing her track record in public health, legislative experience, and consistent community engagement.
The announcement comes at a time when Ogun State politics is heating up ahead of the 2027 governorship race. Governor Dapo Abiodun, also of the APC, is currently serving his second term and is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection. The APC remains dominant in the state, but internal dynamics, zoning considerations, and the influence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo—who remains a major political figure in Ogun and national politics—will likely shape the contest.
Iyabo Obasanjo’s entry into the race is expected to generate significant interest, given her family name, professional background as a medical doctor and public health expert, and prior electoral experience. Her decision to join the APC rather than return to the PDP (where she previously served) signals an attempt to align with the current power structure in the state.
No other major aspirants have formally declared yet, but political analysts anticipate a crowded field within the APC, with several prominent figures from different senatorial districts likely to emerge as contenders.
Her declaration has sparked early conversations about gender representation, continuity of progressive policies in health and social welfare, and the role of political legacies in Nigerian elections.
Further details on her campaign structure, manifesto, and specific policy priorities are expected to emerge in the coming weeks as she begins formal consultations and mobilization efforts across Ogun State.
