Ogun APC Can’t Suspend Ex-Gov Daniel Via Facebook, Says Aide
The team of the former Ogun State governor and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has dismissed claims of his suspension from the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the announcement made through a Facebook post as baseless and procedurally invalid.
Addressing journalists at the Asoludero Court in Sagamu on Tuesday, Senator Daniel’s media aide, Steve Oliyide said it was neither ethical nor logical for a party official to announce the suspension of a serving senator and former governor on social media space.
Oliyide stressed that the power to issue such a suspension lies only with the state chairman or secretary of the party, neither of whom had issued any formal communication.
“It is improper to take a Facebook post seriously when there has been no official letter, no allegation, and no invitation to any disciplinary panel without verification from the authentic leadership of the party in the state or at the national level, such claims should be disregarded.”
He also faulted a statement allegedly released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Adeniran, which he described as an unsigned press release that sought to validate a non-existent suspension order.
“In the last few days, you must have heard rumours about the purported suspension of His Excellency, Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel. This joke began in August 2025 with a Facebook post by someone who for the first time, introduced himself as the Director of Publicity of our great party, the APC, in Ogun State.
“What happened to the state chairman and secretary of the party? This cannot be taken seriously especially since there was no official correspondence, no accusation, no invitation to any panel, and no suspension letter.”
Oliyide described the incident as politically motivated, linking it to the race for the 2027 Ogun East Senatorial race.
“Let no one be deceived, this is all connected to the politics of 2027, Otunba Daniel has done nothing wrong to warrant any disciplinary action.”
He drew parallels with events preceding the 2019 general elections when then-Governor Ibikunle Amosun moved his followers from the APC to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) amid internal party disputes.
“Ahead of the 2019 elections, the APC in Ogun was deeply divided. Senator Amosun moved most members of the APC to the APM, at that time, Otunba Daniel, who was still in the PDP at the instance of the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu mobilised his supporters including traditional rulers and political stakeholders to support Prince Dapo Abiodun and the APC in Ogun State.”
He noted that Daniel’s endorsement and mobilisation efforts were instrumental to Abiodun’s narrow victory in 2019.
“Prince Dapo Abiodun himself visited Otunba Daniel at the Asoludero Court residence, pictures are everywhere, Daniel publicly endorsed him and mobilised massive support for his victory. Despite these efforts, the governor won by only 19,000 votes the lowest margin in Ogun’s history at that time.”
Oliyide further argued that the APC’s 2019 success in Ogun-East was largely due to Daniel’s influence, noting that the party lost in both Ogun Central and Ogun West senatorial districts.
“The APC’s victory came mainly from Ogun-East under Otunba Daniel’s coordination, while other districts went the other way,” he added.
The press conference was attended by several Ogun-East APC leaders, including Gen. Olumuyiwa Okunowo (rtd.), Akogun Kola Onadeko, Prof. Yemi Oke, Rt. Hon. Remmy Hassan, Aare Kolade Segun Okeowo, Dr. Niyi Osoba, Akogun Jamiu Alabi, Prince Akin Onalaja, Otunba Femi Davies, Hon. Opabiyi Samuel, Hon. Wale Adedayo, Engr. Aregbe Habeeb, Hon. Yekini Adesanya, Mrs. Josephine Makanjuola, Dr. Banky Osisanya, and Hon. Taiwo Soniyi, among others.
