Iyabo Obasanjo Candidacy Sparks New Controversy
The decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo as the senatorial candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked controversy.
Since INEC released her name as the candidate for the senatorial election, various questions and disagreements have emerged over the development.
According to reports, some politicians have expressed surprise that INEC could list Obasanjo as a candidate, arguing that the process through which the PDP in Ogun State selected her allegedly did not comply with electoral regulations.
One of the major issues raised is that Obasanjo did not participate in the party’s primary election. They argue that a person who did not participate in a party primary should not subsequently be given the party’s ticket, particularly when she was not replacing another candidate whose name had already been submitted.
They further argued that even if her candidacy was intended to replace another candidate, the timing of INEC’s publication of her name appeared questionable.
The critics said the development had raised concerns and suspicions surrounding the electoral process and urged politicians to take appropriate steps to address the matter.
It would be recalled that Obasanjo was previously a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under which she contested the governorship election but failed to secure the party’s ticket before eventually becoming dissatisfied and leaving the party.
However, an electoral official who spoke on the matter said the commission was simply carrying out its statutory responsibilities. The official added that anyone dissatisfied with the decision was free to submit a formal complaint or seek legal redress through the courts.
