There was a mild drama yesterday as supporters of the former governor and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel clashed with the supporters of the governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Abiodun who is serving his second term as governor is interested in contesting the Senate seat currently occupied by Daniel.
Sen Daniel on arrival at the venue of the meeting was reportedly blocked from gaining access to the venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting of the zone.
The meeting held at Adeola Odutola Hall, Ijebu-Ode, on Monday.
Daily Trust reports that at the meeting, the APC leaders reportedly endorsed Governor Dapo Abiodun as a consensus candidate for the senatorial district ahead of the next election.
Our correspondent reports there has been a simmering rift and bitter rivalry between Daniel and Abiodun over the 2027 senatorial ticket of Ogun East.
Daniel had alleged that the governor’s political ambition was behind the persecution he had faced under Abiodun’s administration over the past two years, an allegation already denied by the government.
A statement from the government indicated that Abiodun was adopted by all the APC leaders present at the caucus meeting.
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders, former Ogun East senator, Lekan Mustapha, said the decision was driven by a shared conviction that Governor Abiodun possesses the capacity to represent the district effectively at the Senate.
Reacting to the endorsement, the media aide to Senator Daniel, Steve Oliyide, described it as a jamboree and self-endorsement.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Daniel’s media aide said such a meeting, held without the presence of the senator representing the district, lacked legitimacy.
He also noted that Abiodun, who was reportedly endorsed, was not on the ground to ‘receive the endorsement.’
Oliyide said: ‘When we endorsed Senator Yayi on Monday last week, Yayi was present. Do you name a child in his absence? And if you look at the gathering, this is a gathering of people on his payroll.
‘ So, are we saying that Dapo Abiodun ran away from his own endorsement ceremony? When we did that one for Yayi, was he not there to receive it? So, as far as we are concerned, it was a jamboree. We call it self-endorsement.’