The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has criticized former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello over her alleged demand for reimbursement of campaign expenses, describing the request as “insulting” and evidence that her political ambition was driven by personal financial interests rather than public service.

 

Speaking while receiving members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (Market Leaders) in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Adeola alleged that Obasanjo-Bello’s decision to leave the APC was motivated by financial considerations and not dissatisfaction with the party.

 

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  1. According to him, “Their intention is driven by personal interest and not the interest of Ogun State. One of them said I offended her because I refused to refund her campaign expenses in dollars and naira. Did I ask her to join the governorship race?”

Yayi Accuses Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello of Pursuing Politics for Financial Gain Over Campaign Refund Demand said he had initially engaged Obasanjo-Bello during consultations with party stakeholders because he believed she was genuinely committed to the development of Ogun State. However, he claimed he later discovered that her political involvement was motivated by personal gain.

 

“Asking me to refund what you spent on your electioneering campaign is insulting to me. You did not leave the APC because the party offended you. You left because you were offered money. You are not a party person; you simply want to cash in,” he stated.

 

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The APC candidate further alleged that after failing to achieve her objectives within the APC, Obasanjo-Bello aligned herself with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar personal interests. He also claimed that her recent public statements had exposed what he described as political dishonesty.

Adeola accused opposition politicians in the state of seeking power primarily to gain access to public resources rather than to advance the welfare of Ogun residents, insisting that their actions were driven by bitterness and self-interest.

He also argued that politicians who defected from the APC after May 10, 2026, were constitutionally ineligible to contest the forthcoming governorship election.

“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 know when these people left the APC. Anyone who crossed over after that date is only wasting his or her time,” he said.

Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, joined the APC in March 2026 to pursue her governorship ambition. She resigned from the party on May 31, 2026, citing alleged maltreatment and disrespect by the party leadership before defecting to the PDP, where she later secured the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket.