Former Ogun State Governor and serving Senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has triggered fresh political tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State after openly rejecting the party’s consensus arrangement by obtaining both nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the Ogun East Senatorial District seat.
The move places him directly against incumbent Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was only days earlier endorsed by party stakeholders as the APC’s preferred senatorial candidate for the district.
Senator Daniel, who currently occupies the Ogun East Senate seat, made his intention public on Tuesday through his official social media platforms, sharing photographs of the process and reaffirming his commitment to returning to the National Assembly.
“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,” he stated.
His declaration came less than 24 hours after Governor Abiodun publicly announced his own adoption as the APC consensus candidate for the same position.
In a post on his verified X handle, @DapoAbiodunCON, the governor wrote, “We attended the Ogun East APC Stakeholders’ Meeting yesterday where leaders of the zone formally adopted me as the All Progressives Congress (@OfficialAPCNg) consensus senatorial candidate for Ogun East.”
The governor accompanied the post with several images from the stakeholders’ meeting and later followed up with appreciation messages, emphasizing unity within the zone while also rallying support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, as the preferred governorship candidate.
The political tension had already been building following reports that APC leaders held a crucial caucus meeting in Ijebu-Ode where Abiodun was formally endorsed. Sources claimed Senator Daniel was allegedly prevented from entering the meeting venue, sparking speculation of deliberate exclusion from the process.
Despite the controversy, Daniel’s decision to purchase the forms appears to signal his readiness for a direct political contest rather than acceptance of the consensus arrangement.
The development has heightened concerns about internal cracks within Ogun APC, particularly as Governor Abiodun had earlier used the stakeholders’ gathering to publicly declare his intention to contest for the Ogun East Senate seat after completing his tenure as governor.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State chapter of the APC has attempted to calm growing concerns over the apparent division.
Speaking during a live current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu on Tuesday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olufemi Nuberu, dismissed claims of crisis.
He insisted that the APC in Ogun remains united and capable of resolving internal disagreements through established party mechanisms.
According to him, reports suggesting Senator Daniel was blocked from the caucus meeting had been exaggerated, noting that no official complaint had been filed before the party leadership.
“Party decisions are based on verified information, not speculation or viral narratives,” Nuberu said.
However, political observers argue that the unfolding situation presents more than a minor disagreement.
The clash between two of Ogun State’s most influential political figures, a sitting senator and a sitting governor, has quickly evolved into what many are calling a major test of APC’s internal cohesion in the state.
Analysts believe the standoff could trigger a bruising primary election if neither side backs down, potentially exposing deeper fault lines within the party.
The contest has already been branded by many political watchers as “Daniel vs Abiodun,” with attention now shifting to the APC national leadership and President Tinubu’s political camp to see how they will handle the growing tension.
With the 2027 elections gradually taking shape, the battle for Ogun East is emerging as one of the earliest and most closely watched internal contests within the ruling party.
What You Should Know
The Ogun East Senate contest has become a major political flashpoint within APC as Senator Gbenga Daniel and Governor Dapo Abiodun now appear set for a direct confrontation.
While the party had attempted to settle on Abiodun through consensus, Daniel’s decision to purchase nomination forms changes the equation significantly. The development could shape Ogun APC’s internal stability ahead of 2027 and influence broader succession calculations in the state.
How the party resolves this dispute may determine whether APC enters the elections united or divided, especially given the political weight and loyal support base both men command across Ogun State.
