The aborted demolition of Senator Gbenga Daniel’s luxury hotel last week marked the end of any pretense of civility between Ogun State’s two most powerful political figures, setting the stage for an unprecedented escalation in their bitter rivalry.
Governor Dapo Abiodun has now turned to administrative warfare, orchestrating the suspension of his former ally and current nemesis from the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their battle for control of Ogun East’s senatorial seat intensifies ahead of 2027.
The demolition gambit, which targeted both Daniel’s residence and commercial property, represented a brazen use of state power that ultimately backfired when the former governor’s political network successfully mobilised to halt the bulldozers. Within days, Abiodun pivoted to party machinery, demonstrating his determination to eliminate his rival through any available means.
Monday’s suspension announcement, delivered through APC publicity director Nuberu Olufemi, swept up both Daniel and lawmaker Kunle Folarin on charges of “anti-party activities” and “misconduct.” The party alleged the duo harassed members into withdrawing a petition unfavourable to them and ignored disciplinary summons.
“In exercise of its powers, the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State hereby affirms the suspension of two members of our party in Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel and Hon. Kunle Folarin, by their respective wards for alleged anti-party activities,” the carefully worded statement read.
Yet the APC conspicuously failed to detail the specific misconduct or reveal how many disciplinary invitations Daniel allegedly spurned, raising questions about the legitimacy of the proceedings.
The suspension represents the latest chapter in a political vendetta that has its roots in competing 2027 senatorial ambitions. Both Abiodun and Daniel claim Ogun East as their political base, creating an inevitable collision course as the governor reportedly eyes Daniel’s Senate seat while the incumbent prepares for re-election.
Political insiders describe Abiodun’s strategy as ruthlessly pragmatic: eliminate Daniel from the party entirely to secure an uncontested path to the senatorial ticket. This calculation has torn apart what was once a formidable political alliance, with Daniel having been instrumental in Abiodun’s 2019 gubernatorial victory.
The relationship’s deterioration has been swift and complete. Accusations now fly that Abiodun has systematically deployed state resources against his predecessor, transforming governance machinery into weapons of political warfare.
Daniel’s political gravitas cannot be understated. His eight-year gubernatorial tenure from 2003 to 2011 established extensive networks of loyalty that persist today, with many viewing him as Ogun’s preeminent political godfather. His 2023 senatorial victory under the APC banner demonstrated this enduring influence.
Abiodun appears immune to such reverence, viewing his predecessor not as an elder statesman but as an obstacle to his own ambitions. Political observers note that the governor’s approach reflects a generational shift in Nigerian politics, where deference to political godfathers increasingly gives way to direct confrontation.
The fracturing of Ogun APC has created uncertainty about the party’s prospects in a state where internal cohesion traditionally determined electoral success. With loyalties now hardening along factional lines, the suspension may prove pyrrhic if it further weakens the party’s overall position.
Daniel’s camp has remained notably silent about potential appeals or legal challenges to the suspension. Media aide Stephen Oluyide has not responded to inquiries about the senator’s next moves, leaving observers to speculate about whether Daniel will contest the action or explore alternative political arrangements.
The escalating conflict between these two titans of Ogun politics has transformed from personal rivalry into an institutional crisis, with the demolition attempt and subsequent suspension representing dangerous precedents for the use of state power in settling political scores.
Peoples Gazette
