…Demands TV Debate

The former Governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, has challenged the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to a live broadcast debate over the growing battle for the Ogun East Senatorial District ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Senator made this call during an appearance on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines, where he dismissed claims that Abiodun had emerged as the consensus candidate for the senatorial seat under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the Senator, the process that produced the governor was merely an endorsement and could not be described as a consensus since not all aspirants agreed to the arrangement.

He further disclosed that he had already obtained his nomination forms and completed screening for the APC primaries, signalling his readiness to contest the ticket despite pressure from some party stakeholders.

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“There was no consensus. Consensus requires agreement by all parties involved. What happened was an endorsement,” Daniel said.

Daniel also alleged that he was deliberately excluded from a key APC caucus meeting where Abiodun received endorsement for the Senate seat, describing the move as politically inappropriate given his status as the incumbent senator representing the district.

“There are certain lines you don’t cross in this business,” he stated while accusing some party leaders of exceeding political boundaries.

In a direct challenge to the governor, Daniel called for a face-to-face televised debate where both politicians would present their achievements and political records before the public.

“I would like to sit with him in public, with facts and figures, and let Nigerians judge,” he said.

“This is an open invitation. And between you and me, if you don’t do that, my assumption is that he ran away. It’s an open challenge.”

The senator further alleged that some APC members who publicly supported Abiodun’s endorsement only did so because of pressures associated with incumbency and prevailing economic realities.

According to him, several party members privately expressed dissatisfaction with the process used in endorsing the governor.

Daniel also raised concerns about the credibility of the APC primary process in Ogun State, alleging that some officials expected to remain neutral had already taken sides ahead of the primaries.

He appealed to the national leadership of the APC to ensure transparency and fairness during the party’s primary election process to avoid worsening internal divisions before the 2027 polls.

Despite his criticisms, Daniel said he would step down from the race if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally directed him to do so in the interest of party unity.

“The president is the leader of the party. If he asks me to step down, I will obey,” he said.