By Omobolaji Adekunle
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has described as insulting the alleged demand by former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello for the refund of campaign expenses she incurred during the party’s governorship race.
Adeola made the remark while receiving members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (Market Leaders) from Remoland at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area.
The APC flagbearer said the alleged request revealed that Obasanjo-Bello’s participation in the governorship contest was motivated by personal financial interests rather than a genuine desire to serve Ogun State.
According to him, the former senator’s claim that she dumped the APC because he failed to reimburse her campaign expenses in both naira and dollars exposed the real reason behind her political actions.
“Their intention is driven by personal interest and not the interest of Ogun 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 contest the governorship election?” Adeola said.
He explained that he had initially reached out to Obasanjo-Bello during consultations with party stakeholders because he regarded her as a respected daughter of Ogun State committed to the state’s development.
However, he said he later discovered that her interest was not rooted in 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 alleged.
Adeola further claimed that after failing to secure what she wanted from him and the APC, Obasanjo-Bello aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar personal gains.
He said more details surrounding the issue would be revealed at the appropriate time, insisting that the former senator’s recent public comments had already exposed her political motives.
The senator also accused opposition politicians in Ogun State of seeking political power solely to gain access to the state’s resources rather than to deliver good governance.
Speaking on the legal challenge against his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, Adeola expressed confidence that the suit would fail, alleging that it was sponsored by political opponents.
He further argued that politicians who defected from the APC after May 10, 2026, were not eligible to contest the forthcoming governorship election, citing existing legal provisions and judicial precedents.
“Based on existing legal provisions and court judgments, politicians who defected 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 said.
Adeola also questioned the readiness of the PDP for the election, alleging that the party remained entangled in internal leadership disputes and litigation.
Earlier, the 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.
She praised the senator’s record of constructing modern markets and empowering traders across Ogun State, expressing confidence that his administration would further improve the welfare of market women and create more economic opportunities for traders.