The Ogun State Government has described Senator Gbenga Daniel's recent allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun as the 'ranting of a drowning politician,' accusing the former governor of turning against the same consensus political arrangement that facilitated his emergence as the Ogun East senatorial candidate in 2023.
Government's Response to Allegations
In a statement released on Wednesday, the state government said it was ironic that Daniel, who benefited immensely from the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus process through the support and intervention of Abiodun ahead of the 2023 elections, is now attacking the same party structure and collective decision-making process that secured his senatorial ticket.
Daniel, while speaking during his midterm assessment and empowerment tour in Ijebu Ode, had accused Abiodun of neglecting Ijebuland, frustrating federal projects facilitated by him, causing Ogun State to lose the proposed Dangote Refinery project, and opposing the establishment of a naval base in Abigi.
Allegations Dismissed as Baseless
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the allegations as baseless, politically motivated, and symptomatic of a politician battling declining influence within the APC. According to Akinmade, Daniel had resorted to 'cheap propaganda and outright falsehood' after allegedly realizing that his political ambitions ahead of 2027 had suffered a major setback.
The government maintained that residents of Ogun State, particularly in Ijebuland, remain appreciative of the developmental strides of the Abiodun administration, especially in infrastructure renewal and road rehabilitation. It described the allegation that Abiodun frustrated the Dangote Refinery project in Ogun State as false and contrary to publicly available facts.
Investor Confidence Under Abiodun
The government, however, said that the ongoing expansion of Dangote cement plants in Itori and Ibeshe reflects renewed investor confidence in Ogun State under the Abiodun administration.
Consensus Candidate for 2027
Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun has formally presented the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, to stakeholders of the APC in Ogun West as the party's consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state. Abiodun said the decision to support a candidate from Ogun West was aimed at correcting the longstanding imbalance in the state, noting that the senatorial district has not produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State about 50 years ago.
According to the governor, the consensus arrangement emerged after extensive consultations and was ratified during a state caucus meeting held in Abeokuta, where Adeola received unanimous endorsement. He described the emergence of the consensus candidate as a major political milestone, adding that the model has become an example worthy of emulation by other states.
