Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ogun East Senatorial District primary election scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026, with his political movement citing threats, intimidation, and a breakdown of democratic fairness as reasons for the decision.
The withdrawal was announced Sunday, May 17, in a statement signed by 35 prominent supporters under the banner of the BATOGD Movement — a political structure rallying behind the former Ogun State Governor’s senatorial ambition.
The group, whose signatories span all local government areas across the Ogun East Senatorial District including Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North, Sagamu, Remo North, Odogbolu, Ikenne, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, and Ogun Waterside, declared that recent developments had made participation in the primary not only unfair but potentially dangerous for their members and supporters.
“In the last few days we have seen all manners of strange movements and miscreants taking positions and ready to strike down our people,” the statement read in part. “We have heard and seen agents of the State government threatening fire and brimstone against our supporters, and the elections yesterday is a confirmation of our worst fears.”
The group said it could not in good conscience expose its people to “unnecessary danger and mayhem,” and accordingly advised Senator Daniel to distance himself from the primary. Supporters were also directed to stay away from all venues of the senatorial party primary on Monday for their own safety.
The BATOGD Movement acknowledged their years of commitment to the APC, stating that they had stood by their principal “to all the nooks and crannies of the Ogun East Senatorial District,” empowering constituents with what they described as the goodwill and backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, the group said recent experiences had run sharply contrary to their understanding of democratic principles. “What we have experienced in recent times is at variance to our understanding of the principles of a democratic system where fair play is the minimum expectation,” the statement declared.
The withdrawal is a significant development in the race for the Ogun East Senatorial seat and raises fresh questions about internal party democracy in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 general elections. Senator Daniel, a former two-term governor of Ogun State, had been widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders for the ticket.
The statement was signed by a cross-section of political heavyweights from across the district, including General (Rtd.) Olumuyiwa Okunowo, Akogun Kola Onadipe, Rt. Hon. Remmy Hassan, Rt. Hon. Oludare Kadiri, and Dr. Babatunde Onadeko, among 30 others.
Neither the Ogun State Government nor the APC leadership in the state had issued a response to the allegations as of the time of this report.
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