Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has said he played a significant role in the political rise of former governor and current senator, Gbenga Daniel, including his emergence as governor in 2003 and later his election to the Senate in 2023.
Abiodun made the remarks on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at his private residence in Iperu Remo, according to a viral video from the gathering.
The governor also used the occasion to formally declare his intention to contest the Ogun East senatorial seat in the 2027 elections, pledging to deliver what he described as “the best representation ever” for the district.
Speaking at the meeting, Abiodun recalled his political history with Daniel, stating that although he contested against him in the 2003 governorship race, he supported him after the primaries and helped consolidate his victory.
“I was here when Otunba Gbenga Daniel became the governor… I actually contested against him in 2003, and when he emerged from the primaries, I was the first to congratulate him and handed over all my structures to him,” he said.
The governor further claimed that he was instrumental in Daniel’s emergence as senator in 2023, alleging that he intervened to convince key contenders, including Prince Segun Adesegun and Senator Lekan Mustapha, to step down in his favour.
He expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of appreciation for his past political support, accusing Daniel of sponsoring negative publicity against him.
“I know what I did for Governor Daniel to become a senator… If Senator Daniel now feels that the only way he wants to repay my years of support is to be sponsoring negative publicity and media attacks against me, I leave him to his conscience,” Abiodun said.
Despite the tensions, the governor insisted that his ambition was focused on providing effective representation for Ogun East in the National Assembly.
“When you gave me the mandate of Ogun State, I have never disappointed you… I will offer Ogun East the best representation ever in the history of the Red Chamber,” he added.
The declaration comes shortly after Senator Daniel reportedly picked up nomination forms to seek re-election to the Senate, setting the stage for a potentially intense political contest in Ogun East ahead of 2027.
