Across political platforms in Ogun State, one of the issues that has gained traction is the running battle between the state’s governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and a former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who is currently representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the Senate.
Until recently, their feud was discussed in hushed tones. It has now become a full-blown political duel, exposing the deep fault lines in the Ogun All Progressives Congress (APC).
Initially, both political gladiators had publicly denied plotting against each other, but the political undercurrents and a flurry of recent confrontations suggest otherwise. The trigger, according to insiders, is the Ogun East Senatorial seat currently held by Daniel, which Abiodun is reportedly eyeing, as his tenure ends in 2027.
The first visible crack came in 2023, when DATKEM Plaza, a multi-storey complex in Ijebu Ode belonging to Daniel’s wife, was demolished by the Abiodun administration on allegations of planning violations, even while litigation was ongoing. The senator has since faced a string of contravention notices and quit orders on other properties, including his residence and hospitality ventures in Sagamu and Ijebu Ode.
It was alleged that the demolition drive is less about urban planning and more about political cleansing, a bid to weaken Daniel’s grassroots influence across Ogun East. Sources close to both camps say the battle for structures, projects, and visibility has intensified, with Daniel accusing the state government of sabotaging his constituency projects, even as Abiodun insists on regulatory compliance.
Abiodun, who hails from Iperu Remo in the same senatorial district, is said to be eyeing the Senate seat to remain politically relevant after 2027. Daniel, on the other hand, sees Ogun East as his long-nurtured political base and is unwilling to yield ground. The rivalry has spilt over into the APC family, with Daniel recently being suspended by his ward over alleged anti-party activities.
This move, according to his loyalists, was part of a broader persecution plot.
Political observers maintain that the Abiodun–Daniel feud is about who defines Ogun’s next chapter and not just about the coming elections in 2027.
Daniel, a two-term governor with old PDP roots, commands deep respect among the Remo and Ijebu blocs. Abiodun, a technocrat-turned-politician, seeks to stamp his own legacy and succession plan without the shadow of his predecessor. While Abiodun has the instruments of power, Daniel still wields grassroots loyalty, with an awe-inspiring structure built over the years.
This, no doubt, may set up Ogun East as one of Nigeria’s fiercest intra-party battlegrounds ahead of the next general election.
