Supporters of Gbenga Daniel slam Abiodun's senatorial endorsement as a sham deal

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Gbenga Daniel

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Sen. Gbenga Daniel’s loyalists on Thursday described the senatorial endorsement of Gov. Dapo Abiodun as a “kangaroo arrangement”.

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The loyalists, known as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement, alleged that the endorsement lacked adequate consultation and due process within the party structure.

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The movement’s Deputy Director-General, Mr Tayo Onayemi, at a news conference in Sagamu, maintained that the procedure was not recognised in the party’s constitution.

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According to him, the constitution only recognises procedures such as consensus backed by the written consent of all aspirants or direct primaries.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that APC leaders and stakeholders in Ogun East Senatorial District had endorsed Abiodun as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

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The endorsement was announced on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Adeola Odutola Hall, Ijebu-Ode.

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Onayemi, however, argued that any endorsement outside the constitutional provisions remained invalid and unacceptable.

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He also alleged that Daniel, a former Ogun governor, was prevented from entering the venue of the purported APC Ogun East caucus meeting, which, according to him, excluded key stakeholders.

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He reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to party unity and urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to intervene and ensure due process was followed.

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“There is nothing like endorsement in the Electoral Act recently signed into law by the president.

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“What we have is consensus by agreement or direct primaries; anything short of this is null and void.

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“As far as Sen. Gbenga Daniel is concerned, he is a principled party man who will always abide by the rules and ethics of the party.

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“We are confident that the APC, as a disciplined party, will uphold its rules and ensure justice is done,” he said.

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Earlier, the Director-General of BATOGD, Mr Olumuyiwa Okunowo, also dismissed the outcome of the Ogun East APC stakeholders’ meeting held in Ijebu-Ode.

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Okunowo alleged that several key stakeholders, including Daniel, were invited with the impression that the meeting was an official senatorial caucus gathering.

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He further claimed that Daniel and his supporters were, however, denied access to the venue, raising concerns about exclusion and manipulation within the party.

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“We are running a democracy, and we are law-abiding citizens.

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“We have absolute trust in the capacity and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do what is right, fair and just,” he said.

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(NAN)

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