The suspension of former Ogun State governor and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to generate ripples as his media aide, Steve Oliyide, dismissed the action as baseless and politically orchestrated, describing Governor Dapo Abiodun as a “budding emperor” determined to edge his principal out of the party.
Speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Tuesday, Oliyide insisted that Daniel remains a bona fide member of the APC. He faulted media houses that carried the suspension story, saying no official communication exists to that effect.
Recall that the suspension was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday, 19th, 2025, by the party’s Director of Publicity, Nuberu Olufemi, following a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) presided over by the state chairman, Yemi Sanusi.
According to the statement, Daniel alongside one of his political associates, Kunle Folarin, both members of APC from Ward 4 and Ward 6 in Sagamu Local Government Area, respectively, were sanctioned after the SWC reviewed the findings of separate disciplinary committees set up at the ward level to investigate allegations of gross misconduct and anti-party activities.
But Oliyide countered the claim, saying: “I’m surprised at the media houses that published the news. There was no such office as the director of media and publicity. We know of the state publicity secretary, which the late Tunde Oladunjoye held. This office only exists in the office of the Secretary to the State Government of Ogun State. One individual just ascribed the title to himself and announced the suspension of Gbenga Daniel. Do you announce someone of the calibre of OGD on Facebook? Where are the letters to that effect? What are the allegations? Anti-party activities? Anything can be interpreted as anti-party. As I speak to you, there is no such letter.”
The aide alleged that the action was part of a grand scheme to edge Daniel out of the APC ahead of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s rumoured 2027 senatorial bid. “Honestly, initially we were speculating, but as things unfold, we now see that everything points to the fact that they want to get this man out. It is the people that don’t want him and they want to frustrate him out of the party. All the scripts—demolition of houses, suspension—they are toward a singular end: get OGD out of the party, frustrate him out of the party. We are saying that it is not possible.”
A campaign banner of gov Abiodun 2027 senatorial bid sighted opposite OGD’s Asoludero court marked for demolition
He also reacted to claims that Daniel failed to participate in the recent Remo Federal Constituency by-election, placing the blame on the campaign committee set up by the governor. “The question should be put to the governor who constituted a committee for the campaign. They should be able to explain the rationale where they are conducting an election, a bye-election, within a senatorial district where a serving senator, a two-time governor of Ogun State, was never considered part of it. What if he had gone to the rallies and he had been booed, stoned, attacked?”
Oliyide maintained that his principal supported the APC candidate, Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, during the poll. “He personally recorded with his own image where he endorsed the candidate of the party. He gave money to the campaign council and to the National Assembly caucus. What else do they expect from him? At what time did he ever tell anyone not to vote for our candidate?”
Highlighting Daniel’s record in the Senate, Oliyide said the former governor had sponsored “19 bills and 3 motions as a first-timer, achievements even those who have spent years in the NASS never recorded.” He further listed interventions such as empowerment of over 4,464 constituents, eye-care services for 2,600 residents, the completion of a market in Igando, Sagamu, and the TETFUND listing for Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic.
According to him, instead of supporting Daniel’s federal-level efforts, the Ogun State government had tried to downplay them. “Each time OGD had gotten a project into the federal budget, the next thing you see is the state government swiftly putting up a signboard to claim the same project. That Ayepe road was in the federal budget of 2025. Look at the Naval base OGD attracted to Ijebu Waterside, the next thing you know, the governor is talking about selling the land. Instead of complementing federal projects, the governor competes with them.”
Oliyide further accused Governor Abiodun of weaponising demolitions against political opponents. He referenced the 2023 demolition of the Datkem Plaza in Ijebu Ode, owned by Daniel’s wife, describing it as “a sore to the eyes.” “As I speak to you, in Ogun State High Court, there is already an injunction. Any other thing done outside that is… because we are going to take every legal step to challenge what we know as illegality. All these extensions are an afterthought to cover shame. I want them to come on air to quote the section of the constitution that speaks to demolition in the manner in which they are saying,” he said.
edifice of the demolished DATKEM Plaza belonging to Olufunke Daniel, wife of former Governor Gbenga Daniel
He added: “In Abeokuta, Sen. Amosun’s house in Ibara was marked for demolition. Amosun simply went to court. He is also bleeding, but he is not saying much. Meanwhile, the governor’s own property, already marked for demolition, has never been touched. We have to resist a budding emperor.”
The development has rekindled discussions about internal divisions within the Ogun APC. Political observers recall that in 2019, properties linked to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun were also marked for demolition under the Abiodun administration, fueling a bitter rift between the two leaders. Analysts say Daniel’s ordeal mirrors a pattern of political rivalries in the state that often spill over into governance.
According to Oliyede, Governor Dapo Abiodun was the unseen hand of the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration. What is the relationship between Amosun and Abiodun? How toxic is it? There is a constant factor in all these conflicts, that is, the present governor of Ogun State. During the eight years of Amosun, the unseen hand is Dapo Abiodun. It is not like you are fighting A, B, C; it is just a singular hand. The hatred started since 2002 when OGD won the primaries with Dapo Abiodun coming second.” He revealed. He, however, opined that there might have been a series of issues leading to their fallout.
The aide tied the crisis to a longstanding rivalry, arguing that Abiodun had been at the centre of Ogun’s political battles since 2002, when Daniel defeated him at the PDP primaries. “All the scripts—demolition of houses, suspension—they are toward a singular end,” he insisted.
Despite the heated exchanges, Oliyide said Daniel had no plans to dump the APC. “The playbook to frustrate OGD is a failed project. APC will not break, and OGD will not leave the party. When we get to the river, we will cross it.”
On President Bola Tinubu’s knowledge of the crisis, he remarked, “The president is a very busy man. Obviously, he is aware. He has intervened. It is his intervention that has birthed this desperation in the governor. The governor is chasing the president around, practically leaving governance in Ogun State to the SSG while playing politics.”
The development has once again raised concerns about the growing tension in Ogun APC, where accusations of demolition politics, authoritarianism, and succession battles threaten to ignite another round of intra-party war.
