PDP Receives Iyabo Obasanjo, Grants Her Ogun Senatorial Ticket

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, on Wednesday formally received former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, who dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that Iyabo, daughter of a former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011.

She lost her bid for re-election in 2011 and left the country to pursue a career in academics in the United States of America.

Senator Obasanjo rejoined active politics in January this year after 15 years and joined the ruling APC where she declared her ambition to run for governor.

However, the former senator resigned from APC on May 31, after losing the governorship ticket, citing disrespect, betrayal and unfair treatment by the APC leadership.

She was formally received into the PDP fold at a mammoth rally held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta on Wednesday, it was reported.

The State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Abayomi Tella, presented the PDP flag to Senator Obasanjo, saying she was welcome back to the party and she was the PDP candidate for Ogun Central in the next election.

“I, Abayomi Tella, PhD, the State Chairman of the PDP and on behalf of PDP Ogun Central, and on behalf of our National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed and the entire National Working Committee of the PDP, present this flag to our revered sister, Prof. Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, as the authority of the party for her candidature for the Senate in Ogun Central,” Tella said.

Senator Obasanjo, while taking the party’s oath, pledged her loyalty and allegiance to the PDP, its constitution, manifesto and code of conduct.

“I pledge myself to the ideals of the PDP. “I shall serve the people of Ogun State and Nigeria with integrity, humility and dedication, putting their welfare above personal and sectional interests,” she declared.

“I am the candidate to beat in the next election and the best senator that Ogun Central has ever had,” she said.

Adebutu, on his part, promised that his administration would make local government areas viable through the implementation of local government autonomy if elected governor.

He also vowed to be careful and transparent in the management of public funds.

“Adebutu’s son, Oladipupo, I won’t steal your money. “Local governments will get their money accordingly and we will be transparent in all our dealings,” he said.