Leading members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State have debunked the reported suspension of former governor and serving senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, describing it as a “political joke taken too far” and a dangerous plot capable of tearing the ruling
Speaking at a World Press Conference held in Sagamu on Tuesday, November11, 2025, the APC elders, led by retired General Olumuyiwa Okunowo, Giwa Comrade Niyi Osoba (Ph.D.), and other notable chieftains, alleged that the so-called suspension was first circulated via a Facebook post by an individual claiming to be the party’s Director of Publicity, a position many party members said they had never heard of until the online post appeared in August 2025.
According to the elders, the Facebook announcement claimed that Ward 4 executives in Sagamu had suspended Senator Gbenga Daniel for alleged anti-party activities, and that the State Executive Committee had ratified the decision. However, they argued that there was no official letter, no investigation, no hearing, and no communication from any recognized organ of the party, making the alleged suspension “a baseless fabrication.”
“It is unethical and illogical to announce a suspension of a serving senator on a Facebook page of someone who isn’t even known to the party structure,” the statement read. “There was no official allegation, no investigative panel, and no letter of suspension. Even journalists were denied access to any authentic document, yet some rushed to publish the rumour without verification.”
The elders further accused the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Lekan Adeniran, of fueling the controversy by sharing an unsigned statement on November 5, 2025, purporting to reaffirm Daniel’s suspension. They questioned why an appointee of the Governor, and not the party’s elected officials, would speak on behalf of the APC.
“This entire drama,” they said, “is politically motivated and tied to the 2027 race, particularly the contest for the Ogun East Senatorial ticket.”
Daniel’s Political Weight and 2027 Concerns
The leaders used the platform to trace the political history of the Ogun APC, recalling how Gbenga Daniel’s intervention and grassroots mobilization helped deliver victory for Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2019 when the party was deeply divided.
They noted that Daniel, then in the PDP, was persuaded by President Bola Tinubu, who was the APC’s national leader at the time, to support the APC’s candidate. His endorsement and mobilization reportedly played a major role in Abiodun’s narrow win by 19,000 votes, the lowest winning margin in the state’s electoral history.
The statement emphasized that in 2023, despite Daniel’s overwhelming popularity, as evidenced by his record-breaking senatorial victory, the APC performed even worse in the governorship race. “The Governor won with just 13,000 votes, losing seven out of nine local government areas in Ogun East, including his own ward and local government,” they stated, suggesting that the administration’s declining popularity could spell danger for 2027.
Party Fractures and Alleged Victimization
The elders expressed dismay that rather than uniting the party after such a close call, the Governor’s camp has continued to alienate critical stakeholders, especially those perceived to be loyal to Senator Daniel. They cited the exclusion of Daniel’s loyalists from the Remo Federal Constituency bye-election campaign committee, even though the former governor reportedly still supported the APC candidate financially and morally.
They also condemned the September 2023 midnight demolition of DATKEM Plaza, a five-storey property owned by Daniel’s wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel, as part of what they described as a pattern of persecution. “In all of this, OGD has maintained a dignified silence to preserve peace in Ogun State and within the party,” they said.
The conference also raised alarm over claims that some APC executives have allegedly been subjected to ritual oaths at shrines, an issue the elders urged the national leadership to investigate.
Call for Reconciliation and Reorganization
In their recommendations, the party elders urged the APC national leadership to intervene immediately to prevent further cracks within the Ogun State chapter. They called for a fair redistribution of party executive positions and elective opportunities among stakeholders to ensure balance and inclusiveness.
“Our party won the 2019 election through a coalition of interests,” the statement concluded. “Today, both former governors, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, have been alienated. This is politically suicidal. The earlier we fix this tear before it becomes a rent, the better for us all.”
The press conference ended with a firm appeal to the APC’s national leadership and President Tinubu to restore internal harmony in Ogun State to safeguard the party’s future victories.
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