A former federal lawmaker, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has advised Senator Iyabo Obasanjo to concentrate on her senatorial ambition instead of what he described as persistent attempts to blackmail the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Oladele said the campaign of calumny against Yayi would not diminish his growing popularity across Ogun State, insisting that the APC candidate remained the most experienced, most widely accepted and best prepared aspirant in the race.
In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, the former Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Crimes said Yayi had continued to build momentum by attracting unprecedented support from party leaders, traditional rulers, professionals, women, youths and other stakeholders across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He described Obasanjo’s repeated attacks on the APC candidate as misplaced and incapable of changing the political reality in Ogun State.
According to him, “Senator Yayi has earned the confidence of the people through years of service, effective representation, impactful constituency projects and programmes that have touched thousands of lives across Ogun State. No amount of blackmail or personal attacks can erase that record.”
Oladele also accused Obasanjo of turning a personal grievance into a political campaign.
He said, “You requested somebody to reimburse you for your campaign expenses and when the person declined to oblige you, you defected to another party and turned that into a campaign issue. It is unheard of and cannot be tolerated in the APC.”
He added that political parties were founded on shared ideals, discipline and service, not on personal financial expectations.
“It is wrong to elevate personal disappointment into a public campaign against a political party or its candidate. The APC is bigger than any individual and its members are expected to put the collective interest of the party above personal considerations,” he said.
Oladele further maintained that Obasanjo should channel her energy towards convincing the electorate of her own credentials instead of engaging in what he described as needless attacks on the APC governorship candidate.
“The PDP is simply not in the race. It would be superfluous to equate its strength with that of the APC which continues to receive defectors and enjoy overwhelming public support across Ogun State,” he said.
The former lawmaker reaffirmed that Senator Yayi remained the candidate to beat in the 2027 governorship election, expressing confidence that the electorate would reward competence, experience and proven leadership at the polls.
He urged APC members to remain united and focused, saying the party’s growing acceptance across Ogun State was a clear indication that victory was within reach.
“Senator Yayi is the next Governor of Ogun State by the grace of God and with the overwhelming support of the people. The people are looking for competence, fairness and inclusive leadership, and they have found those qualities in him. No amount of distraction or blackmail will change that reality,” Oladele stated.
