By Akinwale Kasali
Governor Dapo Abiodun has muscled Senator Gbenga Daniel out, and as expected, picked the Senatorial Ticket of Ogun East District for the 2027 General Election.
Daniel is a former Governor of Ogun State, and the incumbent Ogun East Senator.
However, by picking the ticket at the Primaries held Monday, Abiodun has denied Daniel a shot at a second term, and has realised 50 per cent of his ambition to retire to the Senate after serving eight years as the Governor of Ogun State. The other 50 per cent will be achieved if he wins the seat at the 2027 General Elections.
His journey began when after a very untidy relationship with Daniel, he focused his eyes on sacking Daniel from the Senate.
As a first step, he secured the endorsement of every who-is-who in the Zone, and Daniel became a leper, almost. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Daniel was forced to announce his withdrawal from the race on Sunday, and asked his supporters to boycott the Primary. They did. And, expectedly, Abiodun was declared the winner on Monday after the Primary, albeit, without any strong competition.
In his statement of withdrawal issued through the Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Otunba Gbenga Daniel, BATOGD, Movement, he cited credible threats to the lives of his supporters.
He directed his campaign organization to boycott the exercise entirely.
“In the last few days we have seen all manners of strange movements and miscreants taking positions and ready to strike down our people. We have heard and seen agents of the state government threatening fire and brimstone against our supporters, and the elections yesterday is a confirmation of our worst fears,” the statement reads in part.
The former two-term Governor of the State through his political structure advised supporters to stay away from the polls. It cited the presence of miscreants taking positions and alleged that state government agents had been threatening violence.
“On this note, we have advised our Principal, His Excellency, Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to distance himself from the senatorial party primary elections.
“We also hereby advise our supporters to stay away from the venues of the senatorial party primary election of Monday, May 18, 2026, for their own safety,” the statement added.
With Abiodun now holding the APC ticket, questions remain regarding party unity following the contentious primary.
Political observers queried the rationale behind the emergence of Governor Abiodun after what they alleged as a ‘Kangaroo’ Consensus endorsement that took place weeks back, in which Daniel was locked out.
Daniel was lauded for taking a bold step in withdrawing from Primary, for putting the lives of his supporters into consideration, as against is political ambition.
This situation has further polarized the Party in Ogun East, as it poses a serious danger for the Party.
Many are of the opinion that Daniel supporters will work against the emergence of Abiodun as a Senator during the elections, plunging the party into crisis.
The APC Primary has been marred by series of complains and irregularities, as aspirants lament on the Consensus Candidature deployed by the Party, leading to unwarranted disqualification and non clearance of numerous aspirants.
These steps, political observers say, may affect the APC at the 2027 Election, as aggrieved members may decide to work against the Party.
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