APC Candidate Solomon Adeola Calls Iyabo Obasanjo’s Refund Demand Insulting, Accuses Her of Pursuing Personal Gain

Solomon Adeola, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Ogun State in the 2027 election, said that former party aspirant Iyabo Obasanjo left the APC after he declined to refund the money she spent on her campaign.

Adeola described the request as unreasonable and argued that it revealed Obasanjo and opposition figures were motivated by personal interests rather than a genuine desire to serve the state.

Speaking to members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (market leaders) in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, the senator — who also chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations — shared his views over the weekend.

He told the market leaders that Obasanjo’s demand was not only personally insulting but also indicated that her return to the 2027 governorship race, after about 15 years away from active politics, was driven by an investment motive rather than a sincere wish to serve the people.

Quoting Adeola: “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.”

He continued: “One of them said I offended her. She said I reneged on promises. She said she joined the governorship race and failed, and wanted me to refund her expenses, that I should refund her dollars and naira. Did I ask her to join the governorship race?”

Adeola added that he had visited Obasanjo as part of reconciliation efforts, initially believing she genuinely wanted to govern Ogun State, but later concluded her motives were rooted in personal gain.

He said: “Asking me to refund you or pay back what you have expended on this electioneering campaign is insulting to me. Now you have left the party. You left the party not because the party 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.”

Adeola claimed that after failing to obtain what she wanted from him and the APC, Obasanjo turned to the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, to pursue similar personal benefits.

He said he would reveal more details at the appropriate time, stating that his remarks and Obasanjo’s statements had exposed what he described as her political dishonesty.