Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has announced her bid to become Ogun State’s first elected female governor as a candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). She disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
A former senator and Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Obasanjo-Bello returned to active politics after a lengthy break, citing persistent calls from Ogun residents for her re-engagement. She clarified that her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC was based on personal conviction, independent of her father’s legacy. “He will vote for me, but he is not part of my movement,” she said, stressing that her campaign is self-driven.
As a card-carrying APC member, she has formally entered the race for the party’s governorship nomination in Ogun. Obasanjo-Bello expressed confidence in securing the nomination and winning the election, pointing to her track record in public office and widespread goodwill. She linked her optimism to the APC’s support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill in the National Assembly, which she views as a commitment to advancing women’s political participation. “If there is a time for a woman to emerge as a state governor, this is the time to break that glass ceiling,” she stated, adding that her goal is to normalize female governorships through demonstrated competence and service.
Should she be elected, Obasanjo-Bello pledged to prioritize agriculture, science and technology, healthcare, infrastructure development, and job creation to enhance Ogun’s socioeconomic landscape.
Ogun State, located in Nigeria’s southwest, has never had a female governor, mirroring a national trend where no woman has won a state governorship. Obasanjo-Bello’s candidacy highlights ongoing efforts to increase women’s representation in executive roles. The APC’s internal primary process will determine its standard-bearer, followed by the general election campaign. Her bid underscores a pivotal moment for gender diversity in Nigerian politics, with potential ramifications beyond the state.
