•Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday received a major political boost as leaders, delegates and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun East Senatorial District endorsed him as the consensus candidate of the zone for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement, described by party leaders as a collective decision aimed at ensuring quality representation and sustaining party unity in the district, was witnessed by top APC chieftains, including the party’s consensus governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, former deputy governors and other senior stakeholders across Ogun East, reports The Nation.
The event had in attendance former deputy governors Yetunde Onanuga, Segun Adesegun and Gbenga Kaka; the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi; Deputy Chairman, Chief James Dina; Chairman of Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Lekan Mustapha; and the Chairman of APC in Ogun East Zone, Dr Adeleke Ogundoyin.
While presenting Abiodun to leaders and stakeholders of the zone, former Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun said party members across the district had unanimously endorsed the governor as the APC consensus candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District.
Senator Lekan Mustapha, on his part, stated that the adoption of Governor Abiodun was the collective decision of the people of the district to ensure effective and quality representation at the National Assembly.
He recalled the Ogun East stakeholders’ meeting held on April 20, where leaders of the district unanimously adopted Governor Abiodun as the preferred senatorial candidate of the party, noting that Tuesday’s gathering was convened to formally communicate the decision to the governor and the party leadership.
Chairman of APC in Ogun East, Dr Adeleke Ogundoyin, formally handed over the governor to the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, urging the state leadership to forward his name to the national secretariat of the party as the APC flag bearer for Ogun East Senatorial District.
Abiodun expressed profound appreciation to leaders, stakeholders and delegates of Ogun East Senatorial District for the confidence reposed in him, describing the consensus arrangement as a demonstration of unity, political maturity and shared commitment to the progress of the district and Ogun State.
The governor said he was deeply humbled by the overwhelming support and pledged not to betray the trust and confidence bestowed on him by the people and the leadership of the APC in Ogun East.
But former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel declared that only a free and fair primary election would resolve the battle for the APC senatorial ticket in Ogun East.
Daniel, who currently represents Ogun East in the 10th Senate, said he had reached a “point of no return” in his determination to return to the National Assembly for another term.
The senator vowed that no one could stop his re-election bid, expressing confidence that God would crown his efforts and those of his supporters with success.
“Nobody can stop me. We have reached a point of no return. By the grace of God, we will not be disgraced,” he said.
Daniel made the declaration at the Obalofin Court, his private residence in the Ijebu-Ode GRA, during the BAT/OGD Movement Mid-Term Assessment Tour and Empowerment Programme for residents of Ogun East Senatorial District.
The empowerment programme featured a free medical outreach for over 2,500 people, distribution of fertilisers and sprayers to farmers, as well as the presentation of power generating sets, freezers, sewing machines and other items to constituents.
Daniel, who has obtained the APC Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the senatorial race, said he was prepared to face other aspirants contesting for the party’s ticket for Ogun East.
He urged his supporters, many of whom attended the event with their APC membership cards, to troop out en masse on the day of the primary election and vote for their preferred candidate.
He also warned them against yielding to intimidation or blackmail during the exercise.
According to him, the Electoral Act empowers all card-carrying APC members to determine the party’s candidate through the primary election process.
Daniel expressed confidence that he would defeat other aspirants overwhelmingly if the process was free and fair.
Highlighting some of the projects he facilitated in Ijebuland as governor and senator, he said Ogun East still stood to benefit more from his interventions if re-elected.
He said, “I have reached the point of no return on the contest. The meeting we are holding today is for all members of the party. On the day of the primary, take your membership card, go to your ward and cast your vote for the person you want.
“I have heard that you will be scared from voting; don’t worry. If you do not go out to vote for who you want to represent you, do not come to me later and complain that the person is not performing. You have the power to decide now. Do not be intimidated. It is a contest and we are going to face it.”
Meanwhile, various speakers at the event commended Daniel for developmental projects executed in Ijebuland during his tenure as governor and senator.
