The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to reports that Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it simply wishes her well.
Prof. Obasanjo-Bello, a former PDP commissioner and senator, was reported to have completed her online APC membership registration at Ibogun, Ward 11, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Confirming the PDP’s position, the party’s Ogun State Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, told journalists on Wednesday that the party harboured no ill feelings over her reported move. “We wish her well,” he said briefly.
A close associate of Obasanjo-Bello, Biodun Ajayi, who currently serves as a commissioner with the State Universal Basic Education Board, also confirmed the development. According to him, the former senator completed her registration on Tuesday in Ibogun. “I can confirm that Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo registered online at Ward 11, Ibogun, as a member of the APC,” Ajayi said.
However, the APC Ogun State Director of Publicity, Femi Nuberu, declined to directly confirm or deny the registration when contacted. Instead, he emphasised that the party’s ongoing e-registration exercise is open to all eligible Nigerians.
“Our focus is on ensuring a smooth and inclusive membership registration exercise nationwide, rather than on the status of any individual registrant,” Nuberu said. He explained that all registration processes are handled at the ward level and verified by designated officials.
Nuberu added that the APC was encouraged by the growing number of new members joining the party in Ogun State, describing it as an endorsement of the performance of the APC-led administrations at both federal and state levels under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun.
A former member of the House of Representatives, who spoke anonymously, also confirmed that Obasanjo-Bello had indeed registered with the APC at Ibogun.
The development has sparked renewed political debate, as many observers had earlier speculated that Obasanjo-Bello might return to the PDP or align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Speculation intensified last year when billboards bearing her image appeared across parts of Abeokuta, carrying inscriptions that suggested a possible political comeback.
At the time, some political figures believed she might contest the Ogun Central senatorial seat under the ADC, noting her father’s past support for the party. The Ogun State ADC Chairman, Otunba Femi Soluade, had publicly stated that the party was open to welcoming her if she chose to join.
Sources close to Obasanjo-Bello, however, insist that her decision to register with the APC reflects her personal choice and independence, rather than external influence.
Speaking previously at the 70th birthday celebration of Chief Mrs. Gloria Shoda in Sagamu, Obasanjo-Bello said she had largely withdrawn from politics but acknowledged growing pressure from supporters urging her to return. She explained that while she currently lives and works in the United States, she allowed her supporters to express their goodwill, stressing that she was not actively campaigning for any political office.
Obasanjo-Bello, born on April 27, 1967, is a trained veterinary doctor and academic. She served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health from 2003 to 2007 and represented Ogun Central Senatorial District from 2007 to 2011 before losing her re-election bid.
Her reported registration with the APC, combined with earlier political signals, has renewed speculation about a possible return to elective politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in Ogun Central.
