Crack in Ogun APC as Abiodun, ex-gov clash over outcome of 2023 polls

There is a crack in the Ogun State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor Dapo Abiodun and a former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel, who are both members of the party are at daggers-drawn over the outcome of the 2023 general elections in the state.

While Daniel who ran for Ogun East Senatorial seat won the election overwhelmingly, Abiodun narrowly won his re-election, but lost out in the same district to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

Shortly after the election, some of the governor’s aides accused Daniel of working against Abiodun during the election.

Abiodun also alleged that he was betrayed and backstabbed by friends during the election.

But Daniel in an interview at the weekend, said the governor fell out with him over his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prior to the APC presidential primary.

Recall that Governor Abiodun was said to have backed former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to clinch the presidential ticket at the primary.

Daniel said, “Building on the euphoria of the first election, we had an overwhelming victory. But people’s perception about the presidential election was different. People were warning us as we were going from place to place.

“People kept telling us that they would support Asiwaju. But they said we should leave it to them to take their decision during the governorship election.

“The governor cannot tell me that he was not aware of the sentiment in the street, and most unfortunately, he relied more on sycophants and the fabricated stories they fed him with.”

But reacting yesterday, the APC rose in defence of Abiodun, describing Daniel as a person, “Who paints a picture of dishonesty both in private business and in power.”

The party, in a statement by the state Assistant Publicity Secretary, Olusola Blessed, said, “In the first place, the lawmaker by his antecedents in private business and in power painted a picture of dishonesty, making many to wonder how he managed to get near the power corridor, to the extent of becoming the governor of a state like Ogun.”

The party claimed it was Governor Abiodun who rescued Daniel from “Political ignominy despite strong resistance from party members who were well apprised of what he represented.

“His liberation from the political oblivion into which he threw himself out of greed became necessary after his party, the PDP, lost the presidential election in 2019.

“Many were taken aback by the speed with which Gbenga Daniel dumped his principal, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP despite his position as the Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign organisation.”