OGD Media Office Counters Abiodun, Dismisses Claims on 2003, 2023 Elections
The media office of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday dismissed claims allegedly made by Governor Dapo Abiodun regarding his role in Daniel’s political rise, describing them as “fiction” and a distortion of historical facts.
Aniodun was reported to have claimed that he assisted Daniel political career in 2003 and 2023 elections.
But, in a statement issued on April 29, 2026, the OGD Media Office said it was compelled to respond following what it described as repeated requests for clarification over remarks reportedly made by Abiodun at a private meeting in Iperu.
The statement faulted the governor for making what it termed unverified claims in a closed-door setting, noting that such assertions had never been publicly subjected to scrutiny.
Abiodun was alleged to have claimed that he supported Daniel’s emergence as governor in 2003 and also played a decisive role in his election as senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in 2023.
However, the media office rejected both claims, insisting that available records contradict the governor’s position.
On the 2003 governorship race, the statement acknowledged that Abiodun contested in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries but stressed that Daniel won the ticket convincingly.
It noted that Daniel secured victory with 127 delegate votes against Abiodun’s 12 in what it described as a free and fair exercise, adding that the former governor subsequently reconciled with other aspirants under a “no victor, no vanquished” approach.
The statement further claimed that Abiodun was initially reluctant to align with Daniel after the primaries and only joined reconciliation efforts later.
It also highlighted that Daniel, upon assuming office, appointed Abiodun as the pioneer Chairman of the Gateway Oil and Gas Committee, describing it as evidence of inclusiveness in his administration.
On the 2023 senatorial election, the OGD Media Office maintained that Daniel’s victory was based on his political influence, legacy, and grassroots support, rather than any alleged intervention by the governor.
“The suggestion that his emergence was a product of backstage choreography is not only false but an insult to the electorate,” the statement read.
It added that by the time any purported intervention could have occurred, the party primaries had effectively been concluded.
The media office also alleged that Abiodun did not actively participate in Daniel’s senatorial campaign, claiming the governor neither attended campaign events nor supported mobilisation efforts.
It further accused the state government of discouraging participation in Daniel’s campaign flag-off in Sagamu in October 2022, alleging that some civil servants who attended the event were queried.
The statement questioned the basis of Abiodun’s claim of political support, asking what “structure” he contributed to Daniel’s electoral success.
Citing results from the Independent National Electoral Commission, the media office described Daniel’s senatorial victory as “historic,” noting that the outcome was not challenged at the election tribunal.
The statement also accused the governor of using state machinery to intimidate party leaders and undermine Daniel’s position within the All Progressives Congress, an allegation for which it provided no independent evidence.
It maintained that Daniel’s political standing in Ogun State remains strong and independent of any external influence.
While criticising the governor’s alleged remarks on media attacks, the OGD Media Office said public scrutiny of governance should not be misconstrued as persecution.
“Senator Daniel’s mandate was earned at the polls and requires no retroactive endorsement,” the statement added.
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