Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has accused Senator Gbenga Daniel of sponsoring negative media campaigns against him, further widening the political rift within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Abiodun's Remarks at APC Stakeholders' Meeting
Speaking on Tuesday during a stakeholders' meeting of the APC in Ogun East, Abiodun made the allegations just days after he was endorsed as the party's consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election. The endorsement followed a caucus meeting held on April 20 in Ijebu-Ode, from which Daniel was excluded.
Daniel's Exclusion and Response
Daniel, who addressed supporters outside the venue of the caucus meeting, dismissed the outcome as null and void. Despite the consensus arrangement, he has since purchased the APC nomination form to seek re-election to the Senate, signaling a potential intra-party contest.
Abiodun's Claims of Support
Abiodun reflected on his political relationship with the former governor, stating that he played a decisive role in Daniel's emergence as a senator. I know what I did for Governor Daniel to become a senator. I have never said this publicly, and I am saying it now, Abiodun said. He added that he mobilized his political structures in support of Daniel and facilitated his emergence by influencing other aspirants to step down.
I know what my intervention was to get them to step down for him to emerge as senator, he said, referencing other contenders in the race at the time. Abiodun also said he supported Daniel's reintegration into the APC after previous political differences, describing his actions as deliberate efforts to strengthen party unity.
Disappointment Over Alleged Media Attacks
The governor expressed disappointment over what he described as Daniel's response, alleging that the senator had resorted to backing media attacks against him. If Governor Daniel now believes that the only way to repay me is by sponsoring negative media attacks against me, I leave him to his conscience, he said.
Growing Tensions Ahead of 2027 Elections
The disagreement highlights growing tensions within the Ogun APC ahead of the 2027 elections, as competing interests emerge over key political positions. Abiodun thanked party leaders for endorsing him, pledged not to disappoint supporters, and expressed confidence in the party's prospects in the state. He also voiced support for the party's broader electoral ambitions, including backing for President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid and the governorship aspiration of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.
