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Former Governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has declared that he would defeat Governor Dapo Abiodun overwhelmingly in the forthcoming senatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.

Daniel, who spoke on Tuesday during an empowerment programme organised by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement in Ijebu-Ode, insisted that he remained the popular choice among party members and residents of the district.

“Without any doubt, in a free and fair primary, I will not just win, I will win overwhelmingly,” Daniel declared.

“Go to town and check with the people. Ask them questions. You’re here; on your way out, go to the people and ask questions about who is on the ground.”

He alleged that some forces within the party were planning to intimidate members and suppress voter participation during the primary election.

“What the governor and others depend on is that they’re going to use violence and scare people from coming out to vote. And that’s why I’m telling our people that they should not be deterred; they should come out and vote,” he said.

The rivalry between Daniel and Abiodun has deepened in recent weeks following a meeting of APC stakeholders in Ogun East, where the governor was reportedly endorsed as the consensus candidate for the district’s senatorial seat.

Daniel was reportedly prevented from entering the venue of the meeting held in Ijebu-Ode.

Speaking after the meeting, Former Ogun East senator, Lekan Mustapha, said party leaders adopted Abiodun because they believed he possessed the capacity to represent the district effectively at the Senate.

“We will put a body together to deliver this message to our governor that he has been adopted as the consensus candidate,” Mustapha had said.

However, Daniel’s political structure, under the BATOGD Movement, rejected the endorsement.

The movement’s Deputy Director-General, Tayo Onayemi, argued that the Electoral Act and APC constitution only recognise consensus backed by a written agreement of all aspirants or direct primaries.

“There is nothing like endorsement in the Electoral Act recently signed into law by the President. What we have is consensus by agreement or direct primaries; anything short of this is null and void,” Onayemi stated.

Both Daniel and Abiodun obtained and submitted APC nomination forms and appear set for the party’s primary.

During Tuesday’s event, which featured free medical tests as well as the distribution of empowerment items to his constituents, Daniel accused the Ogun State Government of frustrating developmental projects he had been facilitating in Ogun East.

“The biggest problem we have in going ahead with that project is my brother and our governor. And I don’t see why this should be like this,” he said.

He further criticised the state government over infrastructure and healthcare challenges in the district.

The former governor questioned why the government had allegedly failed to improve medical staffing and public health facilities.

“Why has the government not been able to get international staff? We’re going to need more doctors and nurses,” he added.

Daniel also cited the large turnout at the BATOGD event as evidence of his grassroots support.

“The notice of this meeting was issued two days ago. The people are here standing; they’re trying to stop it again,” he said.

“So, how do you think the party can make progress if you don’t take into account the position and expressions of the masses of people that you see here?”

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the commencement of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for aspirants seeking to contest elective positions on the platform of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday and jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, and Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the party released a detailed timetable for the conduct of its screening exercises and primary elections.

According to the statement, the sale of Expression of Interest Forms will begin on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and close on Monday, May 18, 2026.

The party disclosed that screening and interview sessions for aspirants would hold from Tuesday, May 19, to Thursday, May 21, 2026, to determine eligibility for the purchase of Nomination Forms.

It advised aspirants to appear for the screening exercise with all relevant credentials and supporting documents.

The NDC stated that the sale of Nomination Forms would commence immediately after the screening exercise, running from Thursday, May 21, to Saturday, May 23, 2026, while completed forms are expected to be submitted on or before Monday, May 25, 2026.

Appeals arising from the screening process, according to the party, will be entertained on May 25 and 26, while primary elections for various elective positions are scheduled for May 27 and 28, 2026.

The party added that its Presidential Primary Election would take place on May 29, 2026, in Abuja.

The statement further explained that aspirants seeking tickets for State Houses of Assembly would be screened in their respective states, while aspirants for National Assembly and presidential positions would undergo screening at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

It also noted that governorship primaries would be conducted at the local government level.

According to the party, all aspirants would be required to sign undertakings in line with the party’s guidelines and code of conduct.

The NDC assured members and aspirants of a transparent, inclusive, and democratic process in the conduct of its primaries, adding that the party would adopt the “open secret ballot” system to guarantee credibility, fairness, and internal democracy.

The party also said its approved nomination fees remain among the lowest when compared with those of other major political parties in the country.

Under the approved fee structure, aspirants for State House of Assembly seats are expected to pay N1 million for Expression of Interest Forms and N1.5 million for Nomination Forms.

House of Representatives aspirants will pay N2 million and N4 million respectively, while Senate aspirants are to pay N3 million for Expression of Interest Forms and N5 million for Nomination Forms.

Governorship aspirants are expected to pay N10 million and N20 million respectively, while presidential aspirants will pay N20 million for Expression of Interest Forms and N40 million for Nomination Forms.

The party added that female aspirants and persons living with disabilities would enjoy discounted rates, paying 50 per cent and 25 per cent of the prescribed fees respectively across all categories.

The NDC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting transparent and credible primaries capable of producing competent candidates for the 2027 general elections.

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Former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has revealed that one of his daughters urged him to work with Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, during the 2023 general election.

Kwankwaso made the disclosure on Monday while speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme.

According to him, many political leaders in the country have failed to understand the mindset and aspirations of young Nigerians, especially in the era of social media.

He said younger Nigerians are more interested in competent leadership than issues of religion and ethnicity often emphasised by older politicians.

Kwankwaso noted that even within his household, younger family members expressed views that reflected the growing demand for political collaboration and better leadership ahead of the 2023 election.

The former governor added that many young Nigerians are united by a desire for credible leadership capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

Kwankwaso said: “So many things have changed in this country. You have leaders, many of whom don’t even realize what is happening on social media. We have leaders who hardly have any contact with young men and women. People of our age, my age, or especially the age of Atiku, are very few in this country compared to the younger people. The younger people have their own way of thinking, even our children.

“You will be surprised, even during the 2023 election, in my own house, my own daughter was telling me to go and work with Peter Obi. She didn’t say she was obedient, but she wanted me to work together with him, and vice versa.

“So you see, there is a lot happening in this country, but people at that level we are talking about don’t even understand.

“People are talking about religion. People are talking about ethnicity. People are talking, especially those at our level and age, but the younger people are looking for the right leadership for this country. And I think they are absolutely right.”