Refunding Your Campaign Fee Is An Insult’ — Yayi Fires Back At Iyabo Obasanjo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has alleged that former party governorship aspirant Iyabo Obasanjo left the APC after he declined her alleged request to reimburse her campaign expenses.

Adeola made the claim in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Odunaro, following recent exchanges between the two politicians over the circumstances surrounding Obasanjo’s exit from the ruling party.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (market leaders) in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Adeola described the alleged request as unreasonable and personally insulting.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, said the demand made him question the motives behind Obasanjo’s return to active politics after about 15 years.

According to him, her decision to contest the governorship race appeared to have been driven by personal interests rather than a genuine desire to serve the people of Ogun State.

“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,” Adeola said.

“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 said he had initially reached out to Obasanjo as part of his reconciliation and consultation efforts within the APC because he believed she was committed to the state’s development.

However, he said he later came to the conclusion that her political interest was motivated by personal gain.

“Asking me to refund you or pay back what you have expended on this electioneering campaign is insulting to me,” he stated.

“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.”

The APC governorship candidate further alleged that after failing to get what she wanted from him and the ruling party, Obasanjo turned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar personal benefits.

Adeola said he would reveal more details about the dispute at the appropriate time, insisting that recent developments had exposed what he described as Obasanjo’s political motives.

Obasanjo has denied the allegations, maintaining that her decision to leave the APC was not motivated by money and accusing Adeola of misrepresenting the events surrounding her defection.