Pentouch 
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, was on Tuesday adopted by leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun East Senatorial District as the consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement, according to a statement, was witnessed by senior APC leaders, including the party’s consensus governorship candidate in Ogun State, Olamilekan Adeola, former deputy governors, and other stakeholders across Ogun East.
Others in attendance included former deputy governors, Yetunde Onanuga, Segun Adesegun, and Gbenga Kaka; the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi; Deputy Chairman, Chief James Dina; Chairman of Ogun East Senatorial District, Lekan Mustapha; and Chairman of APC in Ogun East Zone, Dr Adeleke Ogundoyin.
However, the senator representing Ogun East and former governor, Gbenga Daniel, described the endorsement as a deceptive political move driven by desperation, inducement, and coercion and, instead, demand a free and fair primaries.
Presenting Abiodun to leaders and stakeholders of the zone, Adesegun said party members across the district had unanimously endorsed the governor as the APC consensus candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District.
Mustapha said the Abiodun’s adoption was the collective decision of the people of the district aimed at ensuring effective and quality representation at the National Assembly.
He recalled that at the Ogun East stakeholders’ meeting held on April 20, leaders of the district unanimously adopted Abiodun as the preferred senatorial candidate of the party, noting that Tuesday’s gathering was convened to formally communicate the decision to the governor and the party leadership.
In his remarks, Ogundoyin formally presented the governor to the Ogun State APC chairman, urging the state leadership to forward his name to the party’s national secretariat as the APC candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District.
Responding to the endorsement, Abiodun expressed appreciation to leaders, stakeholders, and delegates of Ogun East Senatorial District for the confidence reposed in him, describing the consensus arrangement as a demonstration of unity, political maturity, and shared commitment to the progress of the district and the state.
The governor said, “I am deeply humbled by the overwhelming support, and I pledge not to betray the trust and confidence bestowed on me by the people and the leadership of the APC in Ogun East.
“I assure party faithful and residents of the district that, if elected to represent Ogun East at the Senate, I will provide purposeful, people-oriented, and quality representation capable of attracting more development and democratic dividends to the area.”
Abiodun also thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as the support received by the Ogun State Government since he assumed office, while commending leaders of the zone for prioritising unity and cohesion.
Reacting on behalf of Daniel, his media aide, Steve Oliyide, described the endorsement as a deceptive political move driven by desperation, inducement, and coercion.
Oliyide said, “This is the third time I am reading reports of the endorsement of Governor Abiodun for the Ogun East senatorial race. This is no longer endorsement but coercion and desperation.”
He added that the repeated endorsements suggested fear of a transparent primary election.
According to him, “The rule on consensus is very clear; there must be the consent of all aspirants. Why is the governor afraid of a fair contest?”
Speaking during a midterm assessment tour at Obalofin Court, Ijebu Ode, on Tuesday, Daniel declared that he was fully prepared to contest the APC senatorial primary ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence of victory in a free and fair contest.
Daniel said, “I have reached the point of no return in this contest. On the day of the primary election, every APC member should go to his or her ward with their membership card and vote for the candidate of their choice.
“In a free and fair primary, I will not only win, I will win overwhelminly”
