Gbenga Daniel’s Supporters Pull Out of Ogun APC Senate Primary

Supporters of former Ogun State governor and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, have announced their decision to distance themselves from the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary scheduled for Monday, citing security concerns and alleged threats against members of the group.

The supporters, operating under the platform of the BATOGD Movement, also urged Daniel to stay away from the exercise billed to determine the APC candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement jointly signed on Sunday by members of the group across the senatorial district, the supporters advised party loyalists aligned with Daniel not to attend any of the designated venues for the primary election.

According to the group, the decision was taken in the interest of safety following what it described as disturbing developments and growing tension within the political environment ahead of the exercise.

“We advise all our members and supporters across Ogun East to stay away from the venues of the Senate primaries for their own safety,” the statement read.

The APC had earlier fixed May 18 for its National Assembly primaries across the country.

The Ogun East senatorial contest is expected to attract significant attention as Governor Dapo Abiodun is also seeking the APC ticket for the district.

The BATOGD Movement maintained that since joining the APC, its members had contributed significantly to strengthening the party’s structure and grassroots support across Ogun East.

“We have followed our principal to all the nooks and crannies of the Ogun East senatorial district, empowering the people,” the group stated.

The supporters also acknowledged what they described as the goodwill and support of President Bola Tinubu toward the party and its members in the state.

However, they alleged that recent events surrounding the primary process had raised concerns about fairness and safety.

“However, what we have experienced in no distant time is at variance to our understanding of the principles of a democratic system, where fair play is the minimum expectation,” the statement added.

The group further alleged that suspicious movements and the presence of miscreants in parts of the senatorial district had heightened fears among supporters ahead of the exercise.

“In the last few days, we have seen all manner of strange movements and miscreants taking positions and ready to strike down our people. We have seen and heard people threatening fire and brimstone against our supporters,” the group alleged.

The development is expected to add another layer of tension to the Ogun APC senatorial contest, which has continued to generate political interest within the state.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no immediate reaction from the Ogun State chapter of the APC or supporters of Governor Abiodun regarding the allegations raised by the BATOGD Movement.