Former governor and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, has challenged Governor Dapo Abiodun to a live television debate over the battle for the Ogun East senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Daniel threw the challenge during an interview on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines on Thursday, where he rejected claims that Abiodun had emerged as the consensus candidate for the senatorial seat.
According to the senator, what took place was merely an endorsement and not a consensus, and he insisted that all aspirants must agree before a candidate can be regarded as a consensus choice.
“There was no consensus. Consensus requires agreement by all parties involved. What happened was an endorsement,” Daniel said.
The former governor confirmed that he had already obtained nomination forms and completed screening for the APC primaries, signalling his determination to contest despite pressure from party stakeholders.
Daniel also alleged that he was excluded from a key APC caucus meeting where Abiodun was endorsed, describing the development as politically improper considering his position as the incumbent senator.
The senator further accused some party leaders of crossing political boundaries and warned that certain decisions being taken around the governor could hurt his administration.
“There are certain lines you don’t cross in this business,” he stated.
In a direct challenge to the governor, Daniel called for a face-to-face televised debate where both politicians would publicly defend their records and positions before Nigerians.
“I would like to sit with him in public, with facts and figures, and let Nigerians judge,” he said.
