Police Thwart Daniel’s ‘Illegal Rally’ In Ijebu-Ode, Deepening Ogun APC Rift

—Ex-Governor Accused of Fanning Factional Crisis Ahead of 2027

IJEBU-ODE – A heavy security presence in Ijebu-Ode on Wednesday effectively shut down what authorities described as an unlawful political gathering linked to former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in a move that has intensified tensions within the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Armed police operatives barricaded the Obanta Club and reportedly restricted access to Daniel’s residence in the early hours, preventing a planned assembly of loyalists under the banner of the BATOGD Community Assessment and Review initiative. While no arrests were recorded, the operation has further exposed deepening cracks within the ruling party in Ogun East Senatorial District.

Police sources characterised the action as preventive, citing intelligence that suggested a high risk of confrontation between rival factions. Within APC circles, Daniel’s planned meeting was widely viewed as a direct challenge to the party’s established leadership structure.

Party insiders argue that the former governor’s continued reliance on parallel political platforms signals a broader attempt to consolidate personal influence outside formal party channels. “This was not just another meeting,” a party chieftain said. “It was a calculated move that could have escalated into open conflict.”

The controversy comes amid lingering fallout from a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu-Ode, where Daniel was reportedly denied entry—an incident that has since fueled competing narratives of exclusion and provocation.

Supporters of Governor Dapo Abiodun maintain that the police intervention was necessary to preserve public order, especially in light of reported counter-mobilisation by mainstream party loyalists. Critics, however, see the development as emblematic of a growing pattern in which political disputes are increasingly shaped by security enforcement.

For residents, the visible show of force told its own story. While some questioned the optics of deploying armed officers in a political dispute, others quietly acknowledged that the situation could have deteriorated without intervention.

Daniel’s political trajectory—from a two-term governor under the PDP to a senator navigating a complex return to APC politics—has remained marked by efforts to retain an independent power base. Groups associated with him have repeatedly drawn scrutiny from party leadership wary of internal fragmentation ahead of future elections.

With both camps digging in, the struggle for control of Ogun East APC now risks evolving into a prolonged internal battle—one that could test party cohesion as the 2027 electoral cycle approaches.