Daud Olatunji
Former Ogun State senator and Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu, dismissing reports linking her to a purported political alliance with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obasanjo described the report as false, insisting that she had never met Obi for political discussions and had not entered into any arrangement with him over a proposed cross-party voting strategy.
Her clarification followed a social media publication attributed to a blog, Very Nigerian, which claimed that a political arrangement tagged the “Rainbow Coalition” was emerging in Ogun Central, with the former senator allegedly considering an endorsement of Obi, who the report identified as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Rejecting the claim, Obasanjo said her support for Tinubu was informed by her longstanding political relationship with the President and the respect she said he had consistently shown her.
“I have never met Obi for any political discussions ever,” she said.
Explaining her preference in the presidential contest, the former senator added, “I am supporting Tinubu because I know him best of all the presidential candidates as a much senior politician, and he has always treated me with respect.”
The statement draws a distinction between Obasanjo’s senatorial ambition under the PDP and her declared preference for Tinubu in the presidential race, despite her party’s opposition status at the national level.
The Iyabo Obasanjo Senatorial Campaign Organisation also rejected the alleged alliance, describing the publication as fabricated and accusing its promoters of attempting to mislead voters and create confusion within the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Peter Macjob, the campaign organisation maintained that there had been no meetings, consultations or agreements between Obasanjo and Obi concerning the alleged coalition.
It further insisted that Obasanjo remained the duly cleared PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central and was concentrating on her campaign to return to the National Assembly.
The organisation urged voters and media organisations to disregard the report, calling for political discussions to focus on candidates’ records, policy proposals and capacity to deliver effective representation rather than unsubstantiated claims of secret alliances.
It said the campaign’s priority was to mobilise support across Ogun Central and convince constituents that Obasanjo’s return to the Senate would advance grassroots development and improve representation.
Obasanjo, a former senator representing Ogun Central, is seeking a return to the National Assembly as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Her declaration of support for Tinubu, while retaining her PDP senatorial candidacy, highlights the distinction between her stated presidential preference and her ambition to contest the Ogun Central seat under the opposition party.
The campaign organisation reiterated its call for issue-based politics, urging the electorate to assess candidates on their individual merits, programmes and ability to address the concerns of their constituents.
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