Stakeholders in Ogun East All Progressives Congress, APC, have dismissed the endorsement of Governor Dapo Abiodun as the senatorial candidate of the party in the 2027 election as mere ceremonial.
Political tension in the senatorial district heightened on Monday when the sitting Senator and former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was barred from attending a caucus meeting of the APC to determine the consensus candidate of the Party.
Daniel, whose vehicle was not allowed entrance into the venue of the meeting in Ijebu-Ode, while addressing supporters after he was denied entranc, dismissed the caucus meeting as child's play.
The meeting later went ahead to adopt Dapo Abiodun as the consensus candidate of the party ahead of the 2027 election.
Another drama happened on Tuesday when detachment of police officers blocked the whole street leading to the former governors house in Ijebu Ode, using an Armoured Personnel Carrier and other police vehicles.
Addressing a press conference in Sagamu on Wednesday, the stakeholders under the name BATOGD Movement, dismissed the meeting where Abiodun was endorsed as ceremonial.
They alleged that the event was misrepresented as a stakeholders’ caucus meeting, thereby misleading key party figures into attending.
According to the group, several APC leaders were invited under the impression that the gathering was an official senatorial caucus meeting.
They alleged that the event turned out to be a pre-arranged endorsement programme for a preferred aspirant mainly by his appointees.
While acknowledging the right of political actors to support candidates of their choice, the group criticised what it described as the use of the APC platform to legitimise a “predetermined show.”
It further alleged that some party members who were qualified to attend the caucus meeting were denied access to the venue, which was reportedly restricted to loyalists of the state governor.
The BATOGD Movement described the presence of armed personnel and armoured vehicles at the home of Senator Daniel, a day later, as excessive and unwarranted.
They noted that no known political gathering was scheduled at the venue to justify such action.
The group suggested that local authorities may have provided misleading information to security agencies, resulting in the cordoning off of the area.
They characterised the development as an abuse of power and warned that such actions could undermine democratic norms.
Despite the tensions, the group acknowledged the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force, commending the Inspector General of Police for steps taken to restore calm and provide assurances regarding future engagements.
