The former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the national assembly, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress(APC) senatorial primary scheduled to hold on Monday.
Penpushing reports the resolved to withdraw from the race was made known by his loyalists under the aegis of BATOGD Movement in a statement on Sunday citing alleged plans by some agents of the state government to unleash violence.
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, however, in a swift response to the allegation through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade has described the BATOGD Movement’s allegations as baseless and frivolous.
Penpushing further reports that signatories to the statement announcing Daniel’s withdrawal include General (Rev’d) Olumuyiwa Okunowo rtd (Ijebu Ode) Akogun Kola Onadipe (Ijebu North East) Otunba Fatai Sowemimo (Remo North) Prince Segun Seriki (Ijebu North) and Hon. John Obafemi (Remo North)
The others are Otunba Tayo Onayemi (Ijebu North East) Dr. Bankole Osisanya (Ijebu East) Alhaja Ronke Carew (Odogbolu) Rt. Hon. Remmy Hassan (Odogbolu) and Hon Oludare Kadiri (Maba) (Ijebu North) among others.
Penpushing also reports that the movement in the statement said they have equally encouraged Daniel to stay away from the scheduled Senate primary and has equally consented to it
“Since we joined our great Party, the All Progressives Congress some years ago, we believe we have added value in no unmistakable terms to the party. We have followed our principal to all the nooks and crannies of the Ogun East Senatorial District empowering the people and we are glad that the goodwill of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces has been supportive in no small measure’, the statement read.
“However, what we have experienced in recent times is at variance to our understanding of the principles of a democratic system where fair play is the minimum expectations’, the statement added.
“In the last few days we have seen all manners of strange movements and miscreants taken positions and ready to strike down our people. We have heard and seen Agents of the State government threatening fire and brimstone against our supporters, and the elections yesterday is a confirmation of our worst fears’.
“We do not believe in good conscience that we should subject our people to unnecessary danger and mayhem. On this note, we have advised our Principal, His Exc, The Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel to distance himself from the Senatorial party Primary elections. We also hereby advise our supporters to stay away from the venues of the Senatorial party Primary election of Monday 18th May, 2026 for their own safety”, the group wrote.
Penpushing reports that in further reaction, Akinmade said that Governor Abiodun since being in office for the past seven years had been known to be a leader who prioritize peace and eschew politics of violence.
“We just had the primaries for the House of Representatives which was peaceful across the state, The former governor is actually running away from his shadow. He asked for direct primary and that is taking place tomorrow. The decision not to participate again is just because he knew that he would flatly lose the election’, the statement read.
“However, there’s nothing like plot to unleash violence against anyone because the security agencies are on ground to provide maximum security to all the party members participating in the primary”.
Penpushing further reports that it would be recalled that Abiodun was recently announced as consensus candidate for the Ogun Easy Senatorial by the leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 poll
The former Governor, who is current senator representing the district at the national assembly, however, kicked against the endorsement describing it as a product of desperation being forced down the throats of the party members by the governor.
Penpushing also reports that Daniel insisted that if given a level playing ground, he would defeat the Governor overwhelmingly in a fair primary contest for the senate ticket
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