By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
ABEOKUTA — A political controversy has emerged in Ogun State following reports that a group identified as Hausa residents in the state donated ₦20 million to Governor Dapo Abiodun, allegedly urging him to use the money to purchase a Senate nomination form ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The donation, which reportedly took place in Abeokuta, was said to be in support of Abiodun’s anticipated bid for the Ogun East Senatorial District seat at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Members of the group were quoted as saying the contribution was a show of appreciation for the governor’s performance and encouragement for him to represent Ogun East at the federal level after the completion of his second term as governor.
However, the development has drawn sharp reactions from supporters of the current senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who dismissed the donation as staged and politically motivated.
Speaking on behalf of the senator’s supporters, a party chieftain in the district described the gesture as “not genuine,” alleging that the governor orchestrated the donation to create the impression of broad grassroots support.
“The so-called gift from the Hausa people was arranged by the governor himself. It is not an independent or voluntary contribution,” the spokesperson said.
The supporters accused Abiodun of using ethnic groups to advance his political ambition ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the 2027 elections.
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They further alleged that the move was part of a broader plan to weaken Senator Daniel’s political standing in the district and influence party delegates ahead of the primaries.
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The Merit Newspaper reports that the incident has intensified political tension within the Ogun State chapter of the APC, where both Abiodun and Daniel are regarded as influential figures from Ogun East.
Neither Governor Abiodun nor Senator Daniel had officially declared their intention to contest the senatorial seat as of the time of filing this report. Efforts to get an official response from the governor’s camp on the allegation of staging the donation were unsuccessful.
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Political observers say the development signals an early struggle for supremacy in Ogun East as political actors begin positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.
