Gbenga Daniel challenges Dapo Abiodun to a live TV debate over Ogun East 2027 tensions, escalating APC political rivalry in Ogun State
Ogun East Senator, Senator Gbenga Daniel, has publicly challenged Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to a live television debate, intensifying political tensions within the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State on Thursday during a televised interview in Lagos.
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The senator, who governed Ogun State between 2003 and 2011, issued the challenge during an appearance on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines, insisting that a refusal by the governor to accept would amount to an admission of defeat in the ongoing political disagreement.
Senator Daniel said he was ready for a direct, face-to-face engagement on national television, urging organisers to quickly arrange the encounter between both political leaders.
“This is an open invitation. And if you don’t do that, my assumption is that he ran away,” he said.
The call comes amid growing political friction between both men over the Ogun East Senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party stakeholders recently endorsing Governor Abiodun as a consensus candidate.
Senator Daniel has rejected the endorsement process, insisting on open primaries and alleging political manipulation within the party structure.
During the interview, he maintained that the issues at stake required transparency and direct accountability, rather than indirect political messaging.
“You will have done this programme disservice if you don’t pair us. And let’s do it quickly,” he said.
He further warned the governor that political decisions carry consequences and suggested that internal disagreements within the party had reached a critical point.
“Your Excellency, you are now going to be a former governor very soon,” he added.
The challenge has yet to receive an official response from Governor Abiodun or the Ogun State Government, leaving political observers watching closely as tensions continue to build within the state’s APC structure.
Governor Abiodun, currently serving his second term, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, making the Ogun East Senate seat a key focus of his anticipated post-governorship political direction.
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Senator Daniel, who currently holds the senatorial seat, has framed the unfolding contest as a matter of political loyalty and internal party trust ahead of the next electoral cycle.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
