How Daniel Gave Abiodun Big Scare In Ogun Guber

Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun state secured re-election in Saturday’s March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election with less than  14,000 votes more than his main challenger, Ladi Adebutu.

Abiodun who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 276, 298 votes while Adebutu who flew the flag of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) got 262,383 votes. Adebutu is contesting the results, insisting he won the election but for “irregularities’.

It was a narrow win for Abiodun whose supporters and loyalists claimed to have decimated and “buried” the PDP with the defections of the party’s chieftains to their side ahead of the election.

Checks by SocietyNow.Ng revealed that Abiodun suffered the biggest electoral hurt in Ogun East where he supposedly lured many of Adebutu’s supporters away.

Further digs revealed that at the heart of Adebutu’s better performance in Ogun East during Saturday’s election was the posture of Senate-Elect, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Daniel, a chieftain of the APC refused to openly back any candidate in the face of intense talks he was working with party man Ibikunle Amosun to enthrone Biyi Otegbeye, the candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) as the next Governor of Ogun state.

Otegbeye who was sponsored by former Governor Amosun came a distant third with 94,754 votes.

The outcome of the election indicates that Adebutu and not Otegbeye benefited from Daninel’s stance.

A chieftain of the APC actively involved in the campaigns for the election accused Daniel of “speaking from both sides of his mouth” leaving supporters confused about what to do.

While persons known to have ties with Daniel campaigned against Abiodun, others sided with the governor’s re-election bid as the election got underway.

The opportunity provided by Daniel’s refusal to openly endorse Abiodun boosted Adebutu’s chances in a manner that gave Abiodun and his men a big scare when the election results started trickling in.

The governor, however, regained ground from the latter part of the results released from Ogun West where Senator-Elect, Solomon Olamilekan (Yayi ) and incoming House of Representatives Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) hold sway.

Information at hand revealed that Daniel’s position on Abiodun has roots in the 2019 electoral victory that gave the Governor a second term in office.

Daniel was one of the leaders of the collaborative efforts that gave Abiodun first term victory in 2019 but the Governor was reportedly found “short” of living up to expectations – based on “understandings”.

It didn’t help matter that Abiodun went all out against the Senatorial ambition of Daniel until it was inevitable – after he won the senatorial ticket for Ogun East and just days before the February 25, 2023, federal elections.

“The talks are that Daniel’s act was a very shrewd payback that almost did irreparable damage” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.