A former Governor of Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday dismissed claims by Governor Dapo Abiodun that he benefitted from the governor’s political structure to win the 2003 governorship election.
Daniel also rejected Abiodun’s assertion that his intervention was instrumental to his emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate and eventual victory in the 2023 Ogun East senatorial poll.
Abiodun had reportedly made the remarks during an APC stakeholders’ meeting held at his private residence in Iperu-Remo on Tuesday night, where he claimed to have supported Daniel at different political stages.
Reacting in a statement issued by his media team, Daniel described the governor’s comments as inaccurate and an attempt to distort historical facts.
The senator maintained that his electoral successes were the result of extensive grassroots mobilisation, strategic campaigns and public support.
According to the statement, Daniel defeated Abiodun convincingly during the 2003 Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries and subsequently adopted an inclusive approach by reaching out to other aspirants after his victory.
It added that following his emergence as governor, Daniel appointed Abiodun to head the Gateway Oil and Gas Committee, which later led to the establishment of the state’s oil and gas company.
The media team also recalled that Abiodun’s attempt to secure a senatorial seat in 2015 was unsuccessful, questioning the strength of the political structure he claimed to possess.
The statement further argued that Daniel played a key role in Abiodun’s emergence as governor in 2019 by mobilising support in his favour despite internal political challenges within the PDP at the time.
On the 2023 senatorial election, the media office insisted that Daniel’s victory was based on his political influence, track record and the support of voters across Ogun East.
It described as misleading the claim that the governor facilitated his emergence, noting that the election outcome reflected the will of the electorate.
The statement also disputed Abiodun’s claim that he persuaded other aspirants to step down, insisting that the party primaries had largely been concluded before any such intervention.
It added that Daniel conducted extensive campaigns across the senatorial district, covering all wards and local government areas, while alleging that the governor did not participate in his campaign activities.
The media team further alleged that some government officials were discouraged from attending Daniel’s campaign events, raising questions over the level of support he received.
According to the statement, the senator’s victory margin in the 2023 election was decisive and remained uncontested at the election tribunal.
Daniel’s camp, therefore, urged the governor to focus on governance and address public concerns rather than engaging in what it described as attempts to rewrite political history.
