By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Loyalists of Senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel on Thursday, rejected the purported emergence of Governor Dapo Abiodun as the party’s consensus senatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections, describing the process as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

The loyalists, under the aegis of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement, alleged that the endorsement lacked due process within the party structure.

They made their position known at a press conference in Sagamu, distancing themselves from last Monday’s caucus meeting in Ijebu-Ode where the governor was allegedly endorsed.

Addressing journalists, Chairman of the Forum, Gen. Olumuyiwa Okunowo (retd.), said the exercise lacked legitimacy, alleging that the majority of attendees were not qualified to participate in such a meeting.

According to him, “Over 75 per cent of those present were members of the governor’s cabinet who have no constitutional backing to attend a senatorial caucus meeting, while the qualified party members were either harassed out of the venue or completely barred from entry.”

He described the development as “a kangaroo endorsement, an eyesore and a rape on democracy.”

The group further alleged that the meeting, held at Adeola Odutola Hall, Ijebu-Ode was misrepresented to party leaders.

“Most of our leaders, including Gbenga Daniel, were baited into attending under the guise of a stakeholders’ caucus meeting,” Okunowo said.

“It was only upon arrival that it became clear that more than half of those present were not qualified members. Some of our members were even told bluntly that the gathering was ‘a DA show’ meant strictly for loyalists of the governor.”

Fielding questions from journalists, the Deputy Director of the BATOGD Movement , Otunba Tayo Onayemi explained that former governor Gbenga Daniel and some leaders of the party were allegedly invited to what was presented as a stakeholders’ caucus meeting, only to discover it was a pre-arranged endorsement event dominated by the governor’s loyalists.

He posited that, those who were appointed by the Governor have the democratic right to anoint whichever candidate they prefer, stressing that using party’s name to bait attendance at such events was worrisome.

According to him, most party leaders, including, Senator Gbenga Daniel, were baited into attending the event under the guise of a caucus meeting of stakeholders of the Ogun East Senatorial District, only to discovered that more than half of the people in the hall were not even qualified to attend a Senatorial Caucus meeting.

“This was not a legitimate caucus meeting but a staged show. Of course, those who were appointed by the Governor have the democratic right to anoint whichever candidate they prefer, even if that person is their principal.

“However, using the name of the Party to bait attendance at such events is what gives us concern. Most of the leaders, including our leader, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, were baited into attending the event under the guise of a Caucus Meeting of Stakeholders of the Ogun East Senatorial District.

“Some of our members who were eminently qualified to attend according to the Notice of Invitation were told pointedly to leave the venue, with the explanation that “this is a DA show” and could be attended only by loyalists of the Governor.

“We do not deny them their right to hold their own show, and we believe this must account for why our leader, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was denied access to a “DA Show.” No ill feeling, but they should have been bold enough to make the notifications clear about their true intention, rather than using the name of our great Party to drag our leaders into ratifying a premeditated “show.”

Onayemi further raised alarm over a heavy police deployment to the residence of Senator Daniel in Ijebu Ode on April 22, describing the operation as excessive and unjustified.

He submitted that, armored vehicles and security personnel reportedly blocked access to the area, an action the group likened to “military-era tactics.”

He alleged that the situation may have been triggered by misinformation from local authorities, particularly the chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government whom they accused of misleading security agencies.

“This is a gross abuse of executive power. Such actions evoke memories of authoritarian rule and have no place in a democratic society.”

Similarly, Akogun Kola Onadipe argued that due process was ignored.

“Consensus requires that all aspirants willingly agree and endorse the candidate in writing. If one person disagrees, the party must conduct direct primaries. What happened on Monday falls short of these requirements,” he said.

Beyond the endorsement controversy, the forum condemned what it described as a “siege” on the residence of Senator Daniel in Ijebu-Ode by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday.

The group said heavily armed security personnel were deployed to disrupt an ongoing grassroots empowerment and mid-term stewardship programme.

“We saw armoured vehicles and a large deployment of officers. This is reminiscent of military-era tactics and has no place in a democratic setting.

The stakeholders, however, commended the Inspector General of Police for intervening to de-escalate the situation.

“We thank the Inspector General for his prompt response in restoring calm.

Despite the internal dispute, the group reaffirmed its loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, while urging adherence to democratic principles.

The group, therefore, reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s leadership and reform agenda, emphasizing that democratic processes must not be undermined by “self-serving endorsements or coercion.”

They also welcomed the emergence of Senator Olamilekan Adeola as the APC’s consensus gubernatorial candidate for Ogun State, describing it as a hopeful break from longstanding political patterns.

“The APC must remain a party guided by its constitution, fairness and internal democracy.”

The forum warned against the use of security agencies for political purposes, stressing that such actions could undermine democratic stability.

“We are law-abiding citizens. Security agencies must remain neutral and not allow themselves to be used as tools in desperate hands,” the leaders said.

They concluded by affirming their commitment to lawful political engagement and vowed to defend their rights within the framework of the law, while continuing grassroots mobilization across Ogun East.