OGD rebukes Abiodun claims, rejecting assertions on 2003 support and 2023 senatorial influence in Ogun politics
The media office of Otunba Gbenga Daniel on Thursday issued a forceful rebuttal to claims attributed to outgoing Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, describing the assertions as misleading and unsupported by facts.
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In a detailed statement released in Abeokuta, the OGD Media Office said it had been inundated with requests to respond to remarks allegedly made by Governor Abiodun during a private meeting in Iperu.
The office criticised the setting of the remarks, noting that claims made outside public scrutiny were difficult to interrogate.
Central to the dispute are two assertions reportedly made by Governor Abiodun.
The first concerns the 2003 Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries in Ogun State, where the governor is said to have claimed he supported and collapsed his political structure in favour of Daniel’s emergence.
The second relates to the 2023 Ogun East senatorial election, where Governor Abiodun allegedly suggested he played a decisive role in Daniel’s victory.
Addressing the 2003 contest, the statement acknowledged that Dapo Abiodun participated in the primaries but described his campaign at the time as “vicious” towards Daniel.
The media office emphasised that Daniel secured the party’s ticket with an overwhelming margin of about 90 per cent of delegates in a process widely regarded as free and fair.
The statement further noted that Daniel adopted a conciliatory “No Victor, No Vanquished” approach, engaging fellow aspirants including Emma Shoda, Doyin Okupe and Yemi Adefulu.
It added that Abiodun joined this reconciliation effort later than others.
Highlighting a secondary but notable point, the media office recalled that Daniel subsequently appointed Abiodun to head the Gateway Oil and Gas Committee, a move presented as evidence of an inclusive administration despite earlier political tensions.
On the 2023 senatorial election, the statement firmly rejected any suggestion that Daniel’s victory was orchestrated by Governor Abiodun.
It described such claims as an “insult” to voters in Ogun East, insisting that the win reflected Daniel’s political legacy and grassroots support.
The rebuttal also referenced the 2019 governorship election, stating that Daniel played a pivotal role in supporting Abiodun at a critical moment marked by internal divisions within the ruling party.
According to the statement, Daniel’s public endorsement was a decisive and symbolic gesture that contributed to Abiodun’s eventual success.
Political observers say the exchange underscores lingering tensions within Ogun State’s political landscape as the current administration winds down.
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While Governor Abiodun has not publicly responded to the rebuttal, the episode signals a sharp and evolving contest over political narratives and legacy.
