Professor Iyabo Obasanjo, the Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, has denied reports that she is negotiating a political alliance with the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obasanjo, a former senator representing Ogun Central and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said she had never met Obi to discuss any political arrangement.
She also declared her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term, citing her longstanding relationship with the President.
“I am supporting Tinubu because I know him best of all the presidential candidates as a much senior politician, and he has always treated me with respect,” she said.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2027 election.
Obasanjo’s clarification followed a report by Very Nigerian newspaper alleging that a political arrangement known as a “Rainbow Coalition” was being considered in Ogun Central ahead of the election.
The report claimed that Obasanjo was considering endorsing Obi as part of a cross-party voting arrangement.
However, the Iyabo Obasanjo Senatorial Campaign Organisation dismissed the report as fabricated, describing it as an attempt to mislead voters and create confusion within the PDP.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Peter Macjob, the campaign organisation said no meeting, consultation or agreement had taken place between Obasanjo and Obi regarding any political alliance.
“I have never met Obi for any political discussions ever,” Obasanjo said.
The campaign organisation reaffirmed that Obasanjo remained the duly cleared PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central and was focused on her bid to return to the National Assembly.
It urged voters and media organisations to disregard the report, saying political discourse should centre on candidates’ records, programmes and capacity to deliver rather than unsubstantiated claims of secret political arrangements.
The organisation said its priority remained mobilising support across Ogun Central and presenting Obasanjo’s candidacy as an opportunity to strengthen representation and promote grassroots development.
Obasanjo’s support for Tinubu comes despite her candidacy on the PDP platform, underscoring the distinction between her party affiliation in the senatorial election and her preference in the presidential contest.
Her campaign organisation further called for issue-based politics, urging voters to assess candidates on their individual records, programmes and ability to address the needs of the electorate.
