Ogun APC stakeholders dismiss Senator Gbenga Daniel’s suspension as illegal and politically motivated, citing procedural flaws and party leadership failures under Governor Dapo Abiodun
Ogun APC Stakeholders Trash Gbenga Daniel’s Purported Suspension, Say It Lacks Credibility and Political Logic
By Lukman OMIKUNLE
SAGAMU, OGUN STATE — Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun East Senatorial District have declared that the purported suspension of Senator Gbenga Daniel from the party is illegitimate, baseless, and politically motivated, describing it as a desperate attempt to malign the former governor’s towering political reputation.
Speaking at a well-attended press conference in Sagamu on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Steve Oliyide, aide to Senator Gbenga Daniel and representative of the APC stakeholders in Ogun East, said the process leading to the alleged suspension “was flawed, fraudulent, and in clear violation of the party’s constitution.”
“Otunba Daniel was allegedly investigated and suspended by the executives of Ward 4 in Sagamu — where he is not even registered as a member,” Oliyide declared.
“For the records, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is a registered member of the APC in Isote Ward 12. So, how can he be suspended in a ward where he doesn’t belong? The entire charade lacks credibility and stands condemned by every right-thinking member of our party.”
Describing it as “ a suspension without process or proof,” Oliyide stated that the alleged suspension originated from an unverified Facebook post in August 2025 and was never backed by any official communication, formal inquiry, or documented evidence of wrongdoing.
He added that the so-called announcement was a “faceless political maneuver” orchestrated by individuals threatened by Daniel’s influence and credibility within the ruling party.
“There was no formal report, no investigation, no disciplinary procedure, and no letter of suspension issued through the proper party hierarchy,” he said. “This is nothing but political mischief driven by insecurity.”
Oliyide and other stakeholders firmly refuted allegations of anti-party activities, insisting that Senator Daniel has been one of the most consistent and loyal figures in the APC since joining the party in 2021.
“Since Otunba Daniel joined the APC, he has not, for one day, worked against the party. On the contrary, he has funded, mobilized, and strengthened the APC structure across Ogun East through empowerment programmes, ward tours, and consistent grassroots engagement,” Oliyide stated.
He reminded journalists that in 2019, when the APC was facing internal collapse due to the defection of key members to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), it was Gbenga Daniel — then in the PDP — who, at the request of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, rallied his massive political machinery behind Prince Dapo Abiodun, helping secure APC’s narrow victory.
“Without Daniel’s intervention, the APC would have lost Ogun State in 2019. His political capital in Remoland and Ijebu axis made the difference,” he added.
The Ogun East APC stakeholders also rejected attempts to scapegoat Senator Daniel for the party’s poor performance in the 2023 governorship election, insisting that the loss was a direct result of Governor Abiodun’s unpopularity among the electorate.
“The people of Ogun East didn’t vote against the APC in 2023 — they voted against Dapo Abiodun,” Oliyide declared. “They felt betrayed and neglected after working for him in 2019. The Governor’s inaccessibility and detachment from the grassroots cost him the election.”
He stressed that Daniel and the APC performed excellently in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, where both the party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recorded landslide victories.
“If Senator Daniel was truly involved in anti-party acts, how did he win the senatorial seat with a record 115,147 votes while the APC also swept the presidential poll in Ogun East?” Oliyide queried.
He went further to expose the governor’s weak grassroots connection, noting that, “Prince Dapo Abiodun, as a sitting governor, could not even deliver his polling unit for President Tinubu during the presidential election. That alone raises questions about his own popularity, not Senator Daniel’s loyalty.”
The stakeholders also cited the Remo Federal Constituency Bye-Election held in July 2024 as further evidence of systemic exclusion of Daniel and his loyalists from party activities.
“When the campaign committee for the bye-election was constituted, neither Senator Daniel nor any of his supporters were included,” Oliyide said. “Despite that humiliation, he publicly endorsed and financially supported the APC candidate, Hon. Elegbeji, through multiple channels. That is not the mark of an anti-party politician — it’s the mark of a loyal leader.”
Oliyide recounted that Daniel’s leadership and political influence have consistently benefited the APC. Between 2021 and 2023, the senator embarked on extensive ward-to-ward tours across 103 wards and organized 13 mega rallies to rebuild faith in the party. He distributed scholarships, donated vehicles and tractors, and provided empowerment tools to hundreds of constituents.
“Otunba Daniel’s brand of politics is rooted in service, development, and empowerment,” Oliyide noted. “He has impacted more people in Ogun East than the entire state government combined in recent years.”
In a communiqué jointly signed by the APC leaders from all nine local government areas of Ogun East, the stakeholders called for unity, reconciliation, and internal reform, warning that persistent persecution of loyal members could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Rather than witch-hunting key figures like Senator Gbenga Daniel, the Ogun APC leadership should focus on rebuilding trust and reconnecting with the people,” the statement read.
“The current leadership must learn from the mistakes of 2023 and prioritize inclusivity, fairness, and grassroots engagement.”
The leaders urged the national leadership of the APC to intervene and restore order in the Ogun State chapter before the situation escalates into a full-blown crisis.
“The suspension of Senator Daniel is a joke taken too far. It is unconstitutional, politically illogical, and devoid of credibility. We call on the national leadership to disregard it and reaffirm OGD’s place as a pillar of the APC in Ogun State,” Oliyide concluded. Read More
