ABEOKUTA – Tensions escalated in Ogun East Senatorial District on Monday after the senator representing the district, Gbenga Daniel, was denied access to a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meeting, held at Adeola Odutolu Hall in Ijebu-Ode, brought together party leaders and stakeholders from across the senatorial district.
Sources suggested that the meeting was convened to discuss key political strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections, including a possible move to adopt Governor Abiodun as a consensus candidate for the Ogun East senatorial seat currently occupied by Senator Daniel.
The Encounter News reliably gathered that invitations had reportedly been circulated ahead of the gathering, and Senator Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, was considered a statutory participant.
However, in a video that has since gone viral, a branded bus conveying the senator was stopped at the entrance of the venue.
Daniel, a former governor of the state, was allegedly blocked by the Chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, Babatunde Diya, and a political adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Biyi Adeleye.
Supporters of the senator were seen gathered outside the venue, chanting slogans in his favour, while security personnel present did not intervene as the situation unfolded.
Responding to the incident, Adeleye denied claims that the senator was barred from attending the meeting.
He stated that the restriction applied only to vehicles, citing security concerns at the venue.
“We didn’t prevent him. The venue is highly restricted due to security concerns. People were instructed to park outside,” Adeleye explained.
He added that the senator arrived in a bus filled with individuals allegedly not invited to the meeting and was asked to disembark and enter individually.
“The instruction was clear: he should come in as an invited participant. He refused and insisted on entering with the bus and those not accredited for the meeting,” he said.
