Ogun East: Daniel defies endorsement of Abiodun, picks forms for re-election

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel on Tuesday defied the endorsement of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun for the seat by some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC to pick the nomination and expression of interest forms for re-election.

Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State announced that he has picked the forms for his re-election in a short post on his social media handles.

However, he did not say anything about the interest of the incumbent governor of the state on the senatorial seat.

The former governor said his bid to return to the Senate was to continue his efforts to provide effective and responsive representation for the people of Ogun East Senatorial District under the platform of APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Daniel, in the short post wrote: “Today, I picked up my nomination and expression of interest forms as I seek to return to the Nigerian Senate, continuing my efforts to provide effective and responsive representation for the people of Ogun East Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Recall that APC leaders and stakeholders in Ogun East Senatorial District had endorsed Abiodun as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election just over a week ago.

The endorsement was announced on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Adeola Odutola Hall, Ijebu-Ode.

But Daniel had complained of being locked out of the meeting.

Also, supporters of the Daniel’s loyalists had at a press conference held some days after described the senatorial endorsement of Abiodun as a “kangaroo arrangement”.

The loyalists, under the aegis of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement said the endorsement lacked adequate consultation and due process within the party structure.

The press conference held in Sagamu was addressed by the Movement’s Deputy Director-General, Mr Tayo Onayemi.

According to him, the constitution only recognises procedures such as consensus backed by the written consent of all aspirants or direct primaries.

He also alleged that Daniel was prevented from entering the venue of the purported APC Ogun East caucus meeting, which, according to him, excluded key stakeholders.

“There is nothing like endorsement in the Electoral Act recently signed into law by the president.

“What we have is consensus by agreement or direct primaries; anything short of this is null and void.

“As far as Sen. Gbenga Daniel is concerned, he is a principled party man who will always abide by the rules and ethics of the party.

“We are confident that the APC, as a disciplined party, will uphold its rules and ensure justice is done,” he said.

With Daniel picking the forms to seek re-election, analysts said the stage is set between him and Abiodun for Ogun East senatorial zone seat.

This is inevitable except the governor decided to drop his ambition to transit to the senate after two tenures as chief executive of Ogun State.