Leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun East has dismissed as a political joke the purported suspension of the former governor of the State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, from the Party, describing the move as an act of desperation tied to the 2027 political ambitions within the party.

Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday, at the Asoludero Court, Sagamu, party leaders from the Ogun East Senatorial District said the so-called suspension was a fabricated political drama orchestrated by individuals bent on alienating key stakeholders and weakening the APC ahead of future elections.

The group, which described the development as a social media farce, said it began with a Facebook post in August 2025, authored by a self-acclaimed State Publicity Secretary of the APC, announcing OGD’s suspension, a claim they said was never backed by official party channels.

“Is it ethical or logical to announce a suspension of a former governor and sitting senator on a Facebook page?” the leaders queried, insisting that no formal allegation, investigation, or suspension letter was ever issued to Senator Daniel.

They described the purported suspension of OGD as a “breach of party ethics and constitutional procedure”, noting that the former governor is registered in Isote Ward 12, not Ward 4, where the alleged suspension originated.

“You cannot suspend a member from a ward where he’s not registered. It’s political mischief, plain and simple,” the statement added.

They also accused the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, of acting outside his jurisdiction by circulating an unsigned press release on the matter.

“How can an appointee of the Governor, who is an interested party, speak on behalf of the APC in Ogun State when the party has duly elected officers?” the leaders asked.

The leaders alleged that the entire controversy stemmed from internal wrangling over the 2027 Ogun East senatorial ticket, adding that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s camp is attempting to sideline Daniel and his loyalists in anticipation of the next election cycle.

They recalled that the APC in Ogun was in disarray before the 2019 elections, and it was OGD’s intervention, following an appeal by then APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that helped secure victory for Dapo Abiodun.

“The APC was on the verge of electoral collapse in 2019 due to internal divisions. Otunba Daniel mobilized his structure across Ogun East and delivered victory to the APC when the party lost in most parts of Ogun Central and West,” the statement read.

The group emphasized that OGD’s support base in Ogun East was decisive, noting that Prince Dapo Abiodun won the 2019 election by only 19,000 votes, the slimmest margin in Ogun’s electoral history, while Daniel’s mobilisation secured the bulk of votes from Ogun East.

The speakers accused the governor of systematically alienating loyal party members linked to Daniel, citing the exclusion of OGD’s camp from the Remo Federal Constituency by-election campaign committee, despite Daniel’s open support for the APC candidate.

“Even after the political embarrassment, Senator Daniel still supported the party morally and financially. Yet, his camp remains ostracized,” they said.

They also pointed to the demolition of Datkem Plaza, a five-storey building owned by OGD’s wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel, in September 2023, as part of what they called a pattern of political persecution.

“Despite the provocations, including fresh demolition notices on OGD’s properties, he has maintained a stoic silence and chosen the path of peace and lawful redress,” the group noted.

Warning that the APC in Ogun State is “dangerously fractured,” the group called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to urgently intervene to prevent a total collapse of party unity.

“Our Governor lost his own ward and local government in the 2023 elections. The APC barely survived in Ogun East. Rather than unite the house, some elements are sowing discord and targeting those who worked for the party’s success,” the statement read.

They warned that if the current crisis persists, the APC risks repeating the mistakes of the 2019 and 2023 elections, when intra-party division almost cost the party victory.

“The earlier we fix this tear in the party before it becomes a rent, the better for us all,” the statement concluded.