The lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Daniel, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election, ending his re-election bid ahead of the party’s contest for the 2027 general elections.
Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, announced his withdrawal from the race on Sunday after weeks of political tension and intense consultations within the ruling party. His decision is believed to have followed mounting pressure from party stakeholders seeking to avoid a prolonged internal crisis in Ogun APC.
The development has effectively cleared the path for Governor Dapo Abiodun to emerge as the APC candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District. Abiodun had in recent weeks received endorsements from several party leaders and political groups across the state ahead of the primary election.
Sources within the party disclosed that supporters of Daniel operating under the aegis of the BATOGD Movement also announced their withdrawal from the primary election scheduled to hold on Monday. The move is seen as part of efforts to maintain unity within the party and prevent a deepening of divisions among loyalists of both political camps.
Before his withdrawal, Daniel had been involved in a fierce political battle with Governor Abiodun over control of the Ogun East APC structure and the party’s senatorial ticket. The rivalry between both leaders had dominated political discussions in the state for months, with supporters on both sides openly trading accusations and counter-accusations.
The former governor had accused Abiodun’s administration of targeting him politically through the demolition of some of his properties, including his wife’s five-storey plaza located in Ijebu-Ode. Daniel also alleged that the state government frustrated some constituency projects he sought to execute in the senatorial district.
Governor Abiodun, however, denied the allegations and maintained that the actions taken by the government were not politically motivated. The governor also criticized some of the projects linked to Daniel, alleging that certain construction works carried out under the lawmaker’s supervision involved the use of substandard materials.
Political observers say Daniel’s withdrawal may help reduce tensions within Ogun APC ahead of the party primaries, while strengthening Abiodun’s chances of securing the Ogun East senatorial ticket unopposed. The development is also expected to reshape political alignments in the state as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.