Former Ogun Central Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello has explained her decision to return to the Peoples Democratic Party and seek another term in the National Assembly, 15 years after leaving the Senate.
Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central in the Senate from 2007 to 2011, said her return to active politics was driven largely by a desire to restore what she described as the lost fortunes of her senatorial district.
She said she decided to re-enter the political arena because she believes Ogun Central has declined in influence and development since she left the Senate.
“My desire to take back our senatorial district to where it was when I represented it is the reason why I came back to the PDP, and take up the challenge of restoring our lost glories,” she said.
The former lawmaker’s return comes after a brief and politically significant stint in the All Progressives Congress. Obasanjo joined the ruling party earlier in 2026, describing President Bola Tinubu as a leader who had consistently treated her with honour and respect. She subsequently resigned from the APC in May following disagreements over the party’s internal political processes in Ogun State.
Her dissatisfaction reportedly centred on the manner in which the APC handled its governorship arrangements in the state. Obasanjo accused party leaders of failing to properly consult stakeholders before settling on a governorship candidate, a process she considered undemocratic.
She also complained about what she described as the marginalisation of Ogun Central in the distribution of important political positions. According to her, with the governor coming from Ogun East and the deputy governor from Ogun West, the central senatorial district had been left without adequate representation in the state’s political power structure.
After leaving the APC, Obasanjo returned to the PDP, the platform on which she previously won her Senate seat. The party subsequently handed her its ticket to contest the Ogun Central senatorial seat in the 2027 elections.
Her political comeback has been welcomed by PDP supporters in Ogun State, who see her experience and previous record in government as an asset ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obasanjo also said her decision to return to politics was influenced by persistent appeals from supporters who reminded her of her previous contributions as a commissioner and senator.
She served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health before winning election to the Senate in 2007. During her time in the National Assembly, she chaired the Senate Committee on Health and served on several other committees, including Security and Intelligence, Education, Science and Technology, and National Planning.
Her return to the political arena therefore represents a significant comeback after more than a decade away from elective office.
The former senator has also expressed confidence in the PDP’s prospects in Ogun State, particularly its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu. She has backed the party’s efforts to challenge the ruling APC in the state and regain political ground ahead of the 2027 elections.
Her return is likely to add another layer of competition to the Ogun Central senatorial contest, where the PDP hopes to strengthen its position by deploying a candidate with previous experience in the National Assembly.
Beyond her personal political ambition, Obasanjo has framed her comeback as an attempt to restore what she believes has been lost in Ogun Central over the past 15 years.
Her return also illustrates the fluid nature of Nigerian politics ahead of 2027, as prominent politicians continue to move between parties in response to internal disputes, political calculations and changing electoral alliances.
For Obasanjo, however, the central argument is not simply about returning to the Senate. It is about reclaiming political influence for Ogun Central and using her experience to address what she sees as the district’s decline.
With the 2027 elections approaching, her comeback will be closely watched in Ogun State, particularly as the PDP seeks to regain ground against the APC and other emerging political forces.
The former senator now faces the challenge of convincing voters that her return to the National Assembly can deliver the restoration and representation she has promised.
For a politician who has spent 15 years away from the Senate, the 2027 election will ultimately determine whether her political comeback succeeds in turning that promise into renewed influence for Ogun Central.
