The tense political atmosphere prevailing between the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and a former governor of the state, who currently represents Ogun East in the red chamber, Senator Gbenga Daniel, over who picks the senatorial ticket in the 2027 election is getting heightened by the day. As the date set aside for the primaries of the APC draws closer, fresh dimensions are unfolding, leading to unprecedented tension in the Ogun State polity.
While Daniel had shown interest in returning to the red chamber a long time ago, Governor Abiodun only recently indicated his interest. With that, the governor put an end to indications that he had only a passing interest in the seat. His endorsement as the consensus candidate of the APC at the Ogun East All Progressives Congress Strategic Caucus meeting, held in Ijebu-Ode recently, further signalled the fact that the governor was driving home the ambition on a fast lane.
Though there has been no love lost between Abiodun and Daniel, the tense situation between the duo, which only simmered for some time, had gone back to boiling point over the 2027 senatorial ticket for Ogun East. It is on record that Senator Daniel and Governor Abiodun were on the same page while the latter was seeking election into office in 2019. Abiodun had sought the support of Daniel to ensure his victory at the polls. However, shortly after Abiodun’s emergence, things fell apart, and the centre can no longer hold between the duo.
The cold war between the duo could be traced to the buildup to the 2023 National Assembly election. Daniel had shown his intention to run for the seat eyed by former Senator Lekan Mustapha and Prince Segun Adesegun, among other contenders. However, it was indicated that Governor Abiodun’s body language tilted towards support for Otunba Seyi Oduntan.
Aside from that, insiders believed that the camp of Senator Gbenga Daniel believed that it was not adequately compensated in the scheme of things, vis-à-vis governance and administration, in the state, especially as regards political appointments. They argued that only a handful of Daniel’s loyalists were given appointments, against the ‘promise’ made by Abiodun to compensate the camp if he got elected to office.
It was also believed that the aspiration of Governor Abiodun to unseat Daniel in 2027 is said to be another major issue. Senator Daniel was alleged to have worked against the interest of the APC in the 2023 general election, because of the belief that Abiodun would come for his seat in 2027 on completion of his second term in office. The allegation was that Senator Daniel directed his loyalists to support the candidate of another party in the 2023 election.
In the midst of all these developments, a building belonging to the wife of Senator Daniel, named DAKTEM Plaza in Ijebu-Ode, was pulled down by officials of the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning Development over alleged contravention of the physical planning laws of the State. It was alleged that the officials of the state government carried out the demolition exercise at midnight, a development that further deepened the crisis. The government’s stance cited structural non-compliance and a lack of proper approvals for the said project.
The Daniel camp alleged that the demolition was masterminded by Governor Abiodun, which was labeled as ‘political vendetta’ and ‘desperate tyranny.’ However, the matter is before the Ogun State High Court for adjudication. Observers are of the view that the further threats of demolition against other Daniel-linked properties in Sagamu in 2025 might have cemented the notion that the rift was becoming a personal war between the dup. The recent endorsement of Abiodun as the consensus senatorial candidate by the Ogun East Caucus has, howeve , further escalated the issue, a development Daniel’s camp has described as a ‘rape on democracy,’ and one that cannot stand the test of time.
Daniel’s loyalists gave reasons why the former governor should be returned to the Senate in the interest of the people of Ogun East. Dr Mrs Josephine Soboyejo, a loyalist of the Senator, stressed the need for his re-election into the Red Chamber. She noted that seniority is critical in the Senate, and that, peradventure Abiodun finds his way into the Senate, he would be a junior Senator.
Soboyejo, a former commissioner in Daniel’s administration, maintained that the Senate rewards hierarchy, hence the need for continuity and sustainability. She said, ‘If Senator Gbenga Daniel is not re-elected, and Governor Dapo Abiodun goes to the Senate after his tenure, he will be a junior senator. He will line up behind ranking members. He won’t chair any grade-A committee that can pull roads, schools, or federal projects to Ijebu and Remo.
Interestingly, Governor Abiodun has made it clear that he will be contesting for the seat with a promise of ‘quality representation’ that the senatorial district had never experienced.
The governor faulted Daniel for launching negative media attacks on his personality in the name of politics and interest, while maintaining that he had supported Daniel’s political journey in occupying the Oke Mosan, Governor’s Office, and also his senatorial ambition.
He explained that having lost the governorship ticket to Daniel on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003, he practically handed over his structure to the former governor to boost his victory at the polls.
The governor said that but for his intervention and pleading that the former deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, and Senator Lekan Mustapha step down their Senate ambition in 2023, it might have been difficult for Daniel to have been a member of the National Assembly.
‘I was here when Sen Amosun became the governor, I was here when Otunba Gbenga Daniel became the governor, and I actually contested against him in 2003, and when he emerged from the primaries, I was the first to congratulate him and handed over all my structures to him.
‘And we know what we have done for each other over the years. I know how my relationship with Gov Daniel was when I assumed office, how I held his hands to reintegrate him into the party; these are facts.
‘I know what I did for Gov Daniel to become a senator. This is not something that I have ever said publicly, but these are facts. Prince Segun Adesegun and Sen Lekan Mustapha were the front-runners in that election, ‘he said.
Reacting to the video recording of Governor Abiodun, where he claimed to have been instrumental to the emergence of Daniel as the Governor of Ogun State in 2023, and also becoming the Senator representing Ogun East, the former governor said the accounts presented by the governor were riddled with fabricated lies and outright falsehood.
He said that Abiodun, in 2003, raised a coalition of other contestants against him, claiming he was not a ‘pure Remo’ man. He also faulted Abiodun’s claim that he handed over his political structure to him, adding that it was the late Senator Jubril Martins Kuye who surrendered his structure to him.
The former governor wrote: ‘I have maintained a stoic silence, especially on political matters, out of respect for what I considered to be the overall interest of the Ijebu heritage. However, I will respond to this particular issue in order to set the record straight.
‘As has become typical of our governor, his account was riddled with mischief and outright falsehoods. I have remained muted until now out of respect for the office of the Governor of Ogun State, a position I was privileged to occupy. Unfortunately, that respect appears undeserved by the current and outgoing occupier of that office, Prince Dapo Abiodun.’
According to Daniel, he played a major role in Abiodun’s quest to join the APC, adding that Abiodun had no role in his own journey to become a member of the party.
He said: ‘Contrary to claims, Prince Dapo Abiodun (PDA) had no role in my joining the APC. Key figures, who encouraged me included the then National Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, Chief John Oyegun, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and Nasir el-Rufai. Asiwaju Tinubu had also encouraged me earlier.
‘The APC chieftains had planned an exploratory visit to my Sagamu residence, which coincided with another visit by the northern governors to PDA to address herdsmen clashes occurring in the state as of then. PDA joined them at my residence. During the visit, he theatrically presented me with a broom in front of the cameras.
‘One fine day, I received an invitation from the Chief of Staff to meet President Buhari alongside Dimeji Bankole. When PDA saw the pictures, he became upset that the meeting occurred without his arrangement, despite being informed. That became ‘Offence No. 2.’
‘He then advised me to visit Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I did so with a delegation comprising Opeyemi Agbaje and Engr. Adeola. Subsequently, members of my delegation were reprimanded by PDA’s Tokunbo Talabi for accompanying me. That became ‘Offence No. 3.’
‘At that point, I began to withdraw, knowing PDA doesn’t want me in circulation,’ the lawmaker added.
As we move deeper into 2026, the rift shows no signs of mending. With the governor’s recent endorsement by key party leaders, the Gateway State is providing impetus for the titanic battle.
Observers of the Ogun situation have said that unless a truce is brokered by the national APC leadership or influential traditional rulers, the internal friction could create a vacuum that the opposition PDP, or a third-party movement might exploit in 2027.
For now, Ogun East remains the chessboard where both contenders are displaying their dexterity. As the governor makes a move, it is promptly countered with a masterstroke by the Senator. Ogun East Senatorial zone remains the theatre, and the last has certainly not been heard about the drama from that enclave.