Two key political insiders have provided detailed, first-hand accounts of the events that led to Senator Gbenga Daniel clinching the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Ogun East Senatorial District in 2022, countering what they describe as “lies flying around.”
The revelations, coming from high-ranking party members, paint a picture of a carefully orchestrated political manoeuvre brokered by traditional authority to ensure the former governor’s victory without a contest.
Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, offered a detailed timeline of the primary election day, stating:
“No single local government delegate had voted before I arrived at Itoro Hall. In fact, Gov Daniel was at Awujale Palace from 10am on the same day, and I left him there to announce withdrawal on the instruction of Baba Awujale.”
“After my announcement, Gov Daniel arrived and insisted I follow him back into Itoro Hall to announce our support for his candidacy again which I did.”
“Thereafter, party officials and INEC observers announced the rules. Hon Babatunde Gazal gave a remark as the Chairman of the LGA and voting commenced.”
Dr. Ipaye concluded his testimony by saying, “I hope the above clarified all the lies flying around. I come in peace.”
His account is directly corroborated by Hon. Apagun Adebiyi Adeleye, the Balogun of Ijebu Igbo, who detailed the critical backroom negotiations that preceded the event at the primary venue.
“To collaborate with the Balogun of Ijebu Igbo, I was the one HE instructed to call all the LG chairmen in the East to cast all their votes for OGD, after all the parties had agreed to the candidature of OGD at the Awujale’s palace.”
Adeleye revealed that the intervention of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was pivotal. He stated that the meeting at the palace was called at the instance of the incumbent Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (often referred to as HE), to clear the path for Daniel.
“And it’s important to know that the meeting at the Awujale’s palace was called at the instance of HE, to pave the way for OGD, because SLM (a reference to another aspirant, Senator Lekan Mustafa) had everything needed to win that primary with the information at HE’s disposal.”
“Hence, we believed it was not going to be difficult for Awujale to beg SLM to give up the ticket to OGD without considering him a bad friend either way.”
Providing insight into the Governor’s motivation, Adeleye added: “I remember asking HE if he had thought it through; his answer was How would he explain to anyone that a former governor could not win his senatorial ticket under his nose. It was the moral justification for HE at that time.”
These combined testimonies suggest that the primary election was essentially a ratified formality, following a pre-arranged political agreement secured through high-level intervention to ensure Senator Daniel’s unopposed victory.
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