The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 Ogun State election, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, and former APC governorship aspirant, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, have engaged in a war of words over claims that she demanded reimbursement for expenses incurred during her governorship bid.
Speaking through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Odunaro, Adeola dismissed allegations that he failed to honour a promise to refund Obasanjo’s campaign expenses after the APC governorship primary.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations alleged that the former Commissioner for Health, who has since joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged as its Ogun Central senatorial candidate, was motivated by financial gain rather than public service.
Addressing members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (market leaders) in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Adeola claimed Obasanjo’s request revealed that she viewed politics as an investment.
“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 wanted me to refund her expenses. That I should refund her dollars and naira. Did I ask her to join the governorship race?” he asked.
The senator explained that he visited Obasanjo during consultations with party stakeholders because he believed she genuinely wanted to serve Ogun State, but later concluded otherwise.
“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 has 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 said.
He further alleged that after leaving the APC, Obasanjo aligned with the PDP and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of personal interests.
Adeola also addressed the court case challenging his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, insisting that those contesting his candidacy faced greater legal obstacles.
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“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.
He also questioned the legal standing of the PDP.
“I make 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 added.
Responding to the allegations, Obasanjo described Adeola as dishonest, insisting she never personally demanded any refund.
She also questioned why he allegedly tried to persuade her to remain in the APC after she decided to leave.
“My supporters asked the senator for three things. The first is the Senate seat, the second is the refund of what I spent and the third is inclusion of my people in his campaign.
“I told him that whatever he comes back with of these demands, I will explain them. He did none of the three demands and didn’t even speak to me again until he tried to call me after I left the party. He called and I didn’t pick up and offered me money.
“If he thought it was insulting, why did he now offer money to me not to leave the party? He has no integrity and is a liar.
“The three people that made the requests are…. I made no demands and I told him he didn’t have to do it all, but he should let me know what he would do,” she said.
Obasanjo, who returned to active politics earlier this year before leaving the APC for the PDP, has repeatedly criticised the consensus process that produced Adeola as the APC governorship candidate, alleging that it violated the party’s internal guidelines and excluded both her and her supporters from the decision-making process.