A political advocacy group, Sustainability of Ogun State and Dapo Abiodun Legacy Beyond 2027, has accused former Governor Gbenga Daniel of orchestrating a smear campaign against Governor Dapo Abiodun, alleging that the senator is hiding behind “keyboard warriors” to discredit a performing administration.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its convener, Dr. Arabambi Abayomi, the group said Daniel has refused to accept that his political season has passed and is instead sponsoring faceless writers to attack Abiodun’s record. The group described the recent articles criticizing the governor as recycled allegations lacking factual basis and designed to mislead the public.
The statement singled out claims that Abiodun diverted ₦17 billion in local government funds, arguing that the figure actually represents state intervention to augment shortfalls in federal allocations between 2019 and 2022. It explained that the Joint Account Allocation Committee, comprising all 20 council chairmen and union representatives, oversees disbursement, and that the governor does not unilaterally control the funds. The group also referenced the impeachment of former Ijebu East chairman Wale Adedayo over alleged mismanagement of ₦5.2 million as proof that Abiodun did not withhold council money.
On allegations linking Abiodun to a 1986 arrest in Miami and the Pandora Papers, the group said both issues had been addressed legally and did not constitute a bar to public office under Section 66 of the Nigerian Constitution, which sets a 10-year limit for convictions involving dishonesty. It added that Abiodun has been cleared twice by INEC and has won all court challenges against his eligibility.
The group highlighted Abiodun’s achievements, stating that Ogun’s Internally Generated Revenue rose from ₦45 billion to over ₦240 billion annually, while the state’s GDP grew from ₦4 trillion to roughly ₦17 trillion. It also pointed to the inauguration of Gateway International Airport in Iperu on May 3, 2026, where 345 Hajj pilgrims departed directly to Saudi Arabia in the airport’s first international flight, calling it a milestone Daniel never achieved during his eight-year tenure.
The statement further credited Abiodun with reducing political violence in the state and facilitating a consensus that produced his own emergence as APC’s senatorial candidate for Ogun East, a move it said was backed by ward chairmen, council chairmen and party leaders across the zone. It contrasted this with Daniel’s 2010 administration, which it said collapsed amid a House crisis and failed to produce a successor.
Addressing criticisms over infrastructure, the group acknowledged that roads in areas like Alagbole and Akute had been poor but said ongoing projects on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta-Ifo-Ota and Iperu-Sagamu corridors showed visible progress. It argued that residents on the ground can attest to gradual improvements that critics writing from Lagos or Abuja overlook.
The group also alleged a coordinated media campaign against Abiodun, noting that negative articles often appeared within 48 hours of party meetings where Daniel was absent. It urged writers to consider their legacy and called on delegates to assess Abiodun’s record before the 2027 elections, saying the governor’s performance speaks for itself.
The group said the people of Ogun State can see tangible development in infrastructure, industry and aviation, and will not be swayed by “sponsored pontifications.” It maintained that Abiodun remains the leading political figure in the South West and that Daniel should step aside with dignity rather than fight with bitterness.
