Yayi Blasts Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello Over ‘Insulting’ Campaign Refund Demand, Says She Left APC for Money
Says ex-senator’s defection to PDP exposes political dishonesty
ABEOKUTA — The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has described former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello’s alleged demand for a refund of her campaign expenses as insulting, saying it exposes her financially-motivated interest in the race.
Adeola made the remarks on Monday while hosting members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes in Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area.
According to him, Obasanjo-Bello’s claim that she left the APC because he failed to reimburse her campaign expenses in dollars and naira proves that her ambition was not driven by a genuine desire to serve Ogun State.
“Their intention is driven by personal interest and not the interest of Ogun State. They don’t mean well for our dear 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?” Adeola queried.
The APC flagbearer said he had consulted Obasanjo-Bello during his engagements with party stakeholders because he regarded her as a respected daughter of Ogun State who desired the progress of the state, only to realise that her interest was not centred on public service.
“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 said.
Adeola further alleged that after failing to get what she wanted from him and the APC, the former senator aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of personal benefits. He added that her recent public comments had already exposed her political dishonesty.
He accused opposition figures in the state of seeking power for access to the treasury rather than genuine development, noting that their activities were motivated by bitterness and personal interests.
On the legal challenge to his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, Adeola expressed confidence that the suit would fail, alleging that it was sponsored by political opponents.
He argued that politicians who defected from the APC after May 10, 2026, are constitutionally barred from contesting the forthcoming governorship election, citing existing legal provisions and court judgments.
“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 stated.
Adeola also questioned the legal standing of the PDP in Ogun State, claiming the party remains embroiled in unresolved internal litigation and leadership crises.
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, and subsequently defected to the PDP, where she secured the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket.
Earlier in her remarks, President of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes in Remoland, Chief Mrs. Olufunke Oyelaja, reaffirmed the support of market leaders for Adeola’s governorship ambition, commending his record of constructing modern markets and empowering traders across the state.
