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By Lawrence Agbo
Tension within the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State has intensified ahead of the Ogun East Senatorial primary as supporters of former governor and serving senator, Gbenga Daniel, urged him to stay away from the exercise over fears of violence and intimidation.
The warning comes as incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun also seeks the APC ticket for the same senatorial seat, setting the stage for a major political showdown in the district.
The appeal was made by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement, a political support group loyal to Daniel across Ogun East Senatorial District.
In a statement issued on Sunday and jointly signed by its leaders, the group advised Daniel to distance himself from Monday’s National Assembly primary, saying the political atmosphere had become increasingly tense and unsafe.
The movement also directed its members and supporters to stay away from the primary venues, insisting that no political ambition was worth risking lives.
According to the group, recent developments within the party no longer reflect fairness, inclusiveness or healthy democratic competition.
They said supporters had noticed suspicious movements by suspected political thugs and increasing threats targeted at party loyalists backing Daniel.
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“In the last few days, we have seen all manner of strange movements and miscreants taking positions and getting ready to strike at our people,” the statement said.
The group added that several individuals had openly threatened supporters, creating fear of possible violence before and during the primary election.
It stressed that after wide consultations, the decision to advise Daniel to avoid the contest was taken in the interest of peace, stability and the protection of innocent lives.
The loyalists maintained that they had worked with Daniel to strengthen the APC across Ogun East through grassroots mobilisation and empowerment initiatives and were committed to preserving peace above political victory.
“We have followed our principal to all the nooks and crannies of Ogun East Senatorial District, empowering the people,” the group stated.
It also acknowledged the goodwill of President Bola Tinubu, but insisted that recent events within the party were inconsistent with democratic ideals.
Political observers say the rivalry between Abiodun and Daniel has added fresh tension to the Ogun East APC primary, with the outcome expected to shape the political balance of power in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
