In a dramatic twist that has thrown the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State into deep uncertainty ahead of the upcoming legislative elections, the incumbent Senator representing Ogun East, His Excellency, Senator Gbenga Daniel, has officially withdrawn from the party’s senatorial primaries.
The political titan and former two-term Governor of the state announced his withdrawal in an official statement released on May 16, 2026. He explicitly blamed his sudden decision on an escalating series of security threats, intimidation, and an increasingly hostile environment targeted at his campaign team and grassroots structure.
Shockwaves in the Gateway State
Daniel’s decision caught many by surprise, as he was widely projected to clinch a return ticket to the red chamber. In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the National Chairman of the APC and copied to the state executive, the veteran politician noted that continuing in the current race would compromise the safety of his supporters and endanger innocent lives in Ogun East.
“Political contests should be defined by robust debates, ideas, and the will of the constituents, not by raw muscle, intimidation, and state-sponsored terror,” the statement read. “Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed a terrifying surge in targeted violence, threats to life, and desperate maneuvers designed to suppress the democratic choice of our people. For the sake of peace and to preserve the lives of those who believe in our vision, I am stepping aside from this primary process.”
The letter further revealed that several high-ranking coordinators of the Gateway Movement—the political machinery behind Daniel—had received explicit threats from armed non-state actors operating within the state.
A History of Internal Fractures
To political insiders in Abeokuta and Abuja, Daniel’s withdrawal is the climax of an long-running civil war within the Ogun State APC chapter. The relationship between Senator Gbenga Daniel and the state’s executive machinery, deeply aligned with Governor Dapo Abiodun, has been intensely strained for years.
The feud reached a boiling point in late 2025 when a faction of the party announced an alleged “suspension” of the former governor over accusations of anti-party activities. Though that suspension was fiercely rejected and declared null and void by a coalition of Ogun East APC leaders and elders, the underlying political cold war never truly cooled down. Instead, it evolved into a fierce proxy battle over who controls the senatorial ticket for 2027.
Calls for Comprehensive Investigation
The news of Daniel’s withdrawal has triggered immediate reactions across the state. Grassroots party faithful in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Ikenne erupted in protests over the weekend, demanding that the national working committee of the APC intervene to save the local chapter from self-destruction.
Security sources in the state have confirmed that formal petitions regarding threats to life have been submitted to both the Ogun State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in Ogun State, when reached for a comment, downplayed the allegations of security threats, asserting that the party has always maintained an open, fair, and peaceful environment for all aspirants. He maintained that the primaries would proceed as scheduled, regardless of Daniel’s exit.
With the former Governor pulling out of the race, the path appears cleared for his rival faction within the party to claim the ticket, though political analysts warn that the fallout could cost the APC dearly in the general elections if a genuine reconciliation is not fast-tracked.
