Senator Iyabo Obasanjo the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, has emphasised the importance of assessing political candidates on the basis of their individual records, commitment to public service and capacity to improve people’s lives, rather than party affiliation alone.
Obasanjo stated this during a television interview with TVC, where she spoke about her return to active politics after a 14-to-15-year sabbatical during which she pursued an academic career.
The former senator also addressed questions about her political journey, her decision to return to the PDP and the motivation behind her renewed bid to represent Ogun Central in the Senate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
When asked about her party’s preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Obasanjo declined to be drawn into an explicit endorsement, explaining that taking a position on the presidential contest could create confusion among voters, particularly those assessing her own candidacy.
Her response underscored the distinction between the presidential election and the senatorial contest, in which she is seeking a mandate to represent the people of Ogun Central.
The position also brought into focus the relationship between party loyalty, individual political ambition and the expectations of voters in an electoral environment where politicians sometimes express support for candidates contesting under different party platforms.
For Obasanjo, the immediate priority is her return to the Senate and the opportunity to continue what she described as a longstanding commitment to helping people improve their lives.
Why She Returned to Politics
Explaining what prompted her return after more than a decade away from elective politics, Obasanjo recalled a meeting with a group of about 30 community members who approached her to consider returning to public service.
According to her account, the individuals were not members of her family but people who had independently decided to make a case for her return.
She said their sincerity, concern for the larger society and accounts of how her previous interventions had positively affected their lives made a strong impression on her.
Their appeal, she explained, prompted her to reconsider her position after years spent in academia.
The professor of epidemiology presented the encounter as evidence that her previous work in public office had made a lasting impression on people who believed she could still contribute to their welfare and development.
She also linked her return to concerns about the quality of representation and the desire of constituents to see improvements in their lives.
‘I Am Doing What I Have Always Done’
Asked what she intended to do differently upon returning to politics, Obasanjo explained that her approach to public service remained rooted in her longstanding values rather than a fundamental change in strategy.
She maintained that her focus had always been on helping individuals succeed, improve their circumstances and contribute to the development of society.
According to her, the philosophy that guided her previous political engagements had also informed her work in academia.
She described her return to elective politics as a continuation of that commitment, stressing that her candidacy was closely connected to her personal values and record of service.
The former senator cited her previous interventions in the health sector, including the management of grants and hospital renovation projects, as examples of efforts directed at producing tangible benefits for communities.
She explained that her motivation had consistently been to see people make progress and to contribute to positive changes in society.
From APC Governorship Bid to PDP Senatorial Candidacy
Obasanjo also shed light on the political developments that preceded her return to the PDP.
She recalled that, despite previously serving as a senator on the PDP platform, she joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) when she sought to pursue a governorship ticket in Ogun State.
She said she was the only candidate who immediately congratulated the winner of the party’s consensus process, a decision she presented as part of her conduct during the political contest.
Following that episode, she returned to the PDP to pursue her former senatorial seat in Ogun Central.
Her political trajectory reflects the changing calculations that can accompany contests for different elective offices, as well as the decisions politicians make when their ambitions and party processes take different directions.
For Obasanjo, however, the central argument in her return to the PDP is that her underlying motivation for public service has remained unchanged.
She maintained that her commitment to improving lives transcends the political platform through which she seeks to achieve that objective.
Representation Beyond Presidential Politics
Her response to the question about her party’s presidential preference also highlights a broader issue in Nigeria’s electoral politics: the extent to which a candidate’s position on the presidential contest should determine voters’ assessment of a candidate seeking legislative office.
While political parties generally encourage their candidates to support a common platform and its candidates, presidential and senatorial elections involve distinct contests and responsibilities.
A senator’s mandate includes lawmaking, representation, legislative oversight and advocacy for constituency interests.
For candidates contesting legislative seats, therefore, voters may consider their policy positions, previous records, accessibility and plans for addressing local needs alongside their party affiliations.
Obasanjo’s comments during the interview placed the emphasis on her own record and the reasons she believes she should return to the Senate.
Her account of the community members who approached her, her explanation of her political journey and her insistence on continuity in public service formed the central elements of her case for returning to elective office.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, her candidacy will be judged within the broader contest for Ogun Central, where voters will have the opportunity to assess the candidates, their political affiliations and their respective promises.
For Obasanjo, the message from her TVC interview was that her return to politics represents a continuation of a commitment she says has defined both her academic and political careers: helping people move their lives in a positive direction.