- Safiu Kehinde
Former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has been barred from entering the venue of a caucus meeting held on Monday by the Ogun East stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The caucus meeting turned out to be an endorsement of incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun for the 2027 senatorial election in the Ogun East.
NPO Reports that Daniel and Abiodun had been at loggerheads for some time. Most people believe the rift was caused by the ambition of the Governor to return to the senate, a slot he once won under the aborted regime of late General Sani Abacha.
It was gathered that the leadership of the party had gathered at the hall where the meeting was to be held with Daniel, a serving senator, arriving at about 10am.
While addressing his supporters at the venue of the meeting in Ijebu-Ode and speaking in Yoruba, the ex-governor disclosed that he had arrived at the venue since 10am for a stakeholders’ meeting
“We are here for our caucus meeting and I’ve arrived since 10am. But they denied us entry. They said we should not enter in Ijebu-Ode.” He said.
Daniel held that the any meeting held at the venue without his presence will not be recognised.
“Any meeting held here today without my presence is null and void.” He added.
The development had again raised concerns over the internal crisis within the Ogun APC.
Daniel’s rejection at the stakeholders’ meeting is also coming amid his ongoing feud with the current governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun.
There are indications that all is not well within the party in Ogun state especially with the reported ambition of incumbent Governor who is seeking to replace Daniel at the senate after the expiration of his tenure come 2027.
Daniel had sought election into the senate years after quitting as the Governor of the state.
Should Abiodun win election into the senate, he would emerge as the third former Governor who leaves the governorship seat to become a senator from the state. The other former governor who was also elected to the senate was Ibikunle Amosun.
Party faithfuls had gathered at the Adeola Odutola Hall in Ijebu-Ode.
Former Ogun East senator, Lekan Mustapha, was quoted as saying that the decision was driven by a shared conviction that Governor Abiodun possesses the capacity to represent the district effectively at the Senate.
.“We will put a body together to deliver this message to our Governor that he has been adopted as the consensus candidate,” Mustapha said, describing Abiodun as a leader of strong character and sound intellect.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, noted that the governor’s track record in governance and party cohesion makes him deserving of the Senate seat.
“This endorsement is historic and unanimous. It reflects the collective belief that Prince Dapo Abiodun is the right person for the position,” he stated.
Also speaking, House of Representatives member, Femi Ogunbanwo, representing Odogbolu, Ijebu-Ode, and Ijebu North East Federal Constituency, said the governor’s administration has fostered peace and development across the state, expressing confidence that he would attract more dividends of democracy to Ogun East at the national level.
Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Hon. Afolabi Odulate, commended the governor’s performance and reiterated the district’s collective appeal for him to accept the senatorial bid.
The event witnessed the participation of all 103 councillors across the nine local governments in Ogun East, alongside youth leaders and key grassroots mobilisers.
Prominent figures in attendance included former senators Gbenga Kaka and Lekan Mustapha, Ogun East APC Chairman Adedoyin Adeleke, and respected party elders such as Kola Ogunjobi, Bayo Dayo, Durojaye, Pegba Otemolu, James Dina, and Osibote Amoran.