Ogun East Senator, Gbenga Daniel, has promised to participate only in free, fair and credible primaries.
The lawmaker told Vanguard through his media aide, Steve Oliyide, that he would not support any process that appeared to have a predetermined outcome.
He was reacting to the alleged imposition of consensus aspirants by some All Progressives Congress (APC
He said that democracy must be protected from practices that undermine the integrity of party primaries.
“No electoral process, the result of which appears to be pre-decided, will stand the test of credibility and fairness,” he stated.
“Democratic contests must be genuine so that party members are able to choose their preferred candidates without any external interference.
Daniel said the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries would be a litmus test for the credibility of the whole process.
He called on party leaders to hold transparent primaries which would boost the morale of party members and the general public.
Meanwhile, Daniel has boasted that he would thrash Governor Dapo Abiodun in the forthcoming senatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of 2027 general election.
The Ogun East senator spoke at an empowerment programme organised by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday.
“I am still the favorite of party members and residents of the district,” he said.
“If we have a free and fair primary, I will not only win, I will win overwhelmingly, without any doubt,” Daniel said.
“Go to town and ask the folks. Ask them things. You’re here, on your way out, go to the people, ask questions about who is on the ground.”
He claimed that some forces in the party were plotting to intimidate members and deny them the opportunity to participate in the primary election.
What the governor and others depend on is they’re going to use violence and scare people not to come out and vote. And that’s why I’m telling our people they should not be deterred; they should come out and vote,” he said.
The rivalry between Daniel and Abiodun has assumed a new dimension in the recent past following a meeting of APC stakeholders in Ogun East where the governor was said to have been endorsed as the consensus candidate for the senatorial seat of the district.
It was gathered that Daniel was denied access to the venue of the meeting in Ijebu-Ode.
Daniel, at Tuesday’s event accused the Ogun State Government of frustrating the developmental projects he had been facilitating in Ogun East.
“The biggest hurdle we have to going forward with that project is my brother and our governor. “And I don’t see why it has to be like this,” he said
He also attacked the state government over infrastructure and healthcare issues in the district.
The ex-governor asked if the government allegedly failed to improve medical staffing and public health facilities.
Why has the government not managed to get international staff? “We’re going to need more doctors and nurses,” he added.
Daniel cited the huge turnout at the BATOGD event as evidence of his grass-roots support.
“The invitation to this meeting was made two days ago. “The people are here they are trying to stop it again.
“So how do you think the party can move forward without considering the position and expressions of the masses of people you see here?” he said.
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