The crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State deepened on Tuesday as Governor Dapo Abiodun openly accused Senator Gbenga Daniel of sponsoring negative media attacks against him.

Abiodun made the allegation during the Ogun East APC stakeholders’ meeting, coming barely a week after he was endorsed as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

The political tension followed Daniel’s exclusion from the APC caucus meeting of Ogun East leaders held on April 20 in Ijebu-Ode, where Abiodun received the endorsement.

Daniel, a former two-term governor of Ogun State, had rejected the outcome of the meeting, describing any decision taken there as null and void while addressing his supporters outside the venue.

On Tuesday, the senator further challenged the consensus arrangement by purchasing the APC nomination form to seek re-election to the Senate.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting, Abiodun reflected on his political relationship with Daniel, recalling how he supported his emergence as senator despite previously contesting against him when he was governor.

“I know what I did for Governor Daniel to become a senator. I have never said this publicly, and I am saying it now,” Abiodun said.

He stated that he used his political influence to ensure other contenders stepped down for Daniel, naming Segun Adesegun and Senator Mustapha among those who were frontrunners at the time.

“I know what my intervention was to get them to step down for him (Daniel) to emerge as senator. Segun Adesegun is here. Senator Mustapha, they are here. They were the frontrunners in that election.”

The governor also said he personally facilitated Daniel’s reintegration into the APC after assuming office.

“I held his hand to ensure that he was integrated back into the party. These are facts,” he said.

“We entrusted it to him. If Governor Daniel now believes that the only way to repay me is by sponsoring negative media attacks against me, I leave him to his conscience.”

Abiodun, however, thanked Ogun East APC leaders for their support and expressed confidence that the party would remain united ahead of the 2027 elections.

He also declared support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, as the party’s preferred candidate for the Ogun governorship race, while pledging strong backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-West.

“We are equally confident that Ogun East, alongside the entire state, will stand united to deliver Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola – YAYI as the next Governor of Ogun State,” Abiodun said. (The Sun)