Sen. Gbenga Daniel withdraws from APC primary, cites security threats

Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who represents Ogun East Senatorial District, has pulled out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election scheduled for Monday, May 19, 2026, citing alleged security threats and fears that his supporters could be attacked.

His decision followed a directive from members of his political network, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement, who urged him to steer clear of the contest over concerns about the safety of delegates and backers.

In a statement issued Sunday evening and co-signed by the movement’s Director-General, retired General Olumuyiwa Okunowo, along with 34 other signatories from all nine local government areas in Ogun East, the group said intelligence reports and recent events pointed to a risk of violence during the primary.

The group alleged that “agents of the state government” had taken a stance against the senator and were reportedly prepared to target his supporters during the exercise.

“In the last few days we have seen all manner of strange movements and miscreants taken positions and ready to strike down our people,” the statement read.

It further claimed that threats had been made against supporters of the senator, and that recent political activities had confirmed their fears of a potential breakdown of order at the primary.

“We do not believe in good conscience that we should subject our people to unnecessary danger and mayhem,” the group added.

On that basis, the BATOGD Movement said it had advised Senator Daniel to withdraw from the senatorial primary and also directed supporters to stay away from the voting venues for their own safety.

“We have advised our Principal, His Excellency, Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to distance himself from the senatorial party primary elections,” the statement said.

The group also urged supporters across Ogun East to boycott Monday’s exercise.

When contacted, Daniel’s media adviser confirmed the development, saying the senator had endorsed the position of his political structure and would not take part in the primary as originally planned.

The APC had scheduled the Ogun East senatorial primary alongside other constituencies in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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