Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, has resigned her membership of the party, saying she needs time to reflect on the next phase of her political journey.
Sarafa-Yusuf, who contested the APC governorship primary ahead of the 2023 Ogun State election, announced her resignation in a statement titled “Moving Forward” on Thursday.
She said she had formally informed the leadership of the APC in Ogun State and submitted her resignation letter after an extended period of travelling, spending time with her family and engaging in quiet reflection.
Sarafa-Yusuf was among the six aspirants who contested the APC governorship primary held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, in May 2022. The other aspirants were Governor Dapo Abiodun, Adekunle Akinlade, Biyi Otegbeye, Owodunni Opayemi and Remi Bakare. Abiodun won the primary with 1,168 votes.
Her resignation comes months after she had declared interest in contesting the 2027 Ogun State governorship election on the APC platform.
Explaining her latest decision, Sarafa-Yusuf said her time in the APC had been an important part of her political journey and that she remained grateful for the relationships, experiences and lessons acquired during her years in the party.
“However, there comes a time when one must have the courage to reassess one’s path,” she said.
She stressed that her resignation from the APC should not be interpreted as an abandonment of public service, insisting that her commitment to serving Ogun State and Nigeria remains strong.
According to her, she will continue to be guided by the values that brought her into public life, including service, integrity, inclusion, competence and a genuine desire to make a difference.
“It is, therefore, important to reiterate that I am not stepping away from public service. I am taking the next step in the journey,” she stated.
Sarafa-Yusuf said she would return to her professional and business commitments after her holiday while taking time to determine the form her next phase of political engagement would take.
She added that the decision to leave the APC was taken after careful consideration and was not an indication that she had withdrawn from political participation.
“And sometimes, moving forward requires giving oneself the space to reflect, to listen, and to decide with clarity where one truly wants to go,” she said.
She wished the APC and its members well as she begins what she described as the next step in her journey.
