Says Iyabo Obasanjo’s demand for campaign expenses insulting
From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Senator Solomon Adeola, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, has accused major opposition elements in the state of being motivated by personal interests centred on access to the Ogun State treasury rather than service to the people and the development of the state.
He stated this while addressing the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (market leaders) in Remoland over the weekend at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area.
He condemned the recent disclosure by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello that she left the APC because he allegedly reneged on a promise to refund her campaign expenses following his emergence as the APC consensus candidate.
Senator Adeola informed the market leaders that not only was the demand for a refund insulting to him personally, but it also clearly showed that her sudden entrance into the Ogun State 2027 governorship race earlier this year, after more than a decade away from active participation in the contest, was an investment she expected to recoup rather than an effort to serve the people.
“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. One of them said I offended her. She said I reneged on promises. She said she joined the governorship race and failed and want me to refund her expenses. That I should refund her dollars and naira. Did I ask her to join the governorship race?” he stated.
The APC governorship candidate said he visited her as part of his consultations and reconciliation efforts with party members, viewing her as a respected Ogun State indigene who had shown interest in governing the state. However, he said he later discovered that her interest was driven by personal gain.
“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 have 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. They are there in their numbers looking for the purse of Ogun State,” he stressed.
The senator added that after failing to secure what she wanted from him and the APC, Senator Obasanjo-Bello turned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar personal benefits. He added that the time would come to disclose more details, noting that his comments and her public disclosures were sufficient to expose what he described as political dishonesty.
Adeola, however, addressed the legal challenge instituted against his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, noting that the same political opponents were behind the court action.
He said those challenging his candidacy would fail and were themselves confronted with more fundamental legal hurdles.
“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.
Senator Adeola said that, as things stand, there is no validly recognised PDP structure, arguing that the party remains embroiled in internal legal disputes.
“I made 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.
Earlier, members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes in Remoland, led by their President, Mrs Olufunke Oyelaja, pledged their total support for the senator’s governorship aspiration, expressing confidence in his ability to promote the welfare of traders and stimulate economic growth across the state through the construction of ultra-modern markets and the empowerment of thousands of market women.
(The Sun)