Intrigues As Gbenga Daniel Keeps Silent Over Indefinite Suspension By Ogun APC

The indefinite suspension of Senator Gbenga Daniel by the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, with reactions ranging from “shocking” to “long expected.”

 The announcement, made late on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, by the Governor Dapo Abiodun–led state party structure, accused the former two-term governor of anti-party activities.

Daniel, however, has remained silent 48 hours after the development, fueling speculation about his next move.

While the suspension came as a surprise to many, insiders insist the rift between Daniel and Abiodun has been simmering for years.

Both men, once allies in the 2019 election, began to drift apart in 2020 over what sources described as “actions and inactions on both sides.” 

The feud escalated ahead of the 2023 elections when Daniel defied Abiodun’s wishes and declared for the Ogun East senatorial race. 

Despite the governor’s resistance, Daniel pressed on with his campaign. According to insiders, it took the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, to broker a fragile compromise that allowed Daniel to secure the ticket.

 “The peace was fragile from the start,” one source noted. And another added “Neither man featured in the other’s campaign.”

The uneasy truce collapsed after the 2023 polls. Daniel won his senatorial seat by a landslide, while Abiodun barely survived a strong challenge from PDP candidate Ladi Adebutu—who, like Daniel and Abiodun, also hails from Ogun East. 

That outcome sparked allegations within the APC that Daniel had covertly backed Adebutu.

 “The argument was simple: it was illogical for Adebutu to outperform the combined structures of a sitting governor and a former governor without Daniel’s silent support,” an insider explained.

The accusations triggered a messy social media war between loyalists of both camps.

Political observers suggest Abiodun has since been working to cut Daniel down to size. From allegedly whittling his support base within the party, sidelining him in the Remo by-election campaign to moves that forced the Senator into a public show of loyalty to the APC, analysts say the governor’s camp has been executing a strategy of political isolation. 

“The suspension is part of that bigger picture,” a source revealed, continuing “It’s a signal that Abiodun is ready to take the fight all the way, even if it means stripping Daniel of influence ahead of 2027.”

The Daniel -.directly and indirectly- has serially accused Abiodun of plotting to become the next Senator representing Ogun East, despite the latter’s open plan to seek another term.

Despite the drama, Daniel’s silence is seen by many as a deliberate move. A veteran of Ogun politics, he is no stranger to drawn-out political battles. “This is familiar terrain for him,” another insider said, and stressed “He became governor through strategic patience, survived intense political persecution after office, and returned to win a Senate seat. Silence has always been one of his strongest weapons.”