The simmering political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ogun State intensified on Thursday as leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun East Senatorial District, under the aegis of the BAT/OGD Movement, accused rival forces within the party of intimidation, manipulation of consensus 2027 Battle Brews In Ogun As BAT/OGD Faults Abiodun Consensus, Police Deployment, and misuse of security agencies.
At a press conference in Ijebu Ode, the Director-General of the movement, Gen. Olumuyiwa Okunowo (retd.), flanked by Deputy DG, Otunba Tayo Onayemi, Otunba Fatai Sowemimo, and Akogun Kola Onanidipe, alleged a “coordinated attempt to subvert internal democracy” in the state chapter of the APC.
The group’s outcry follows Wednesday’s heavy deployment of armed policemen and armoured vehicles to roads leading to the residence of former Ogun State governor and serving senator, Gbenga Daniel, in Ijebu Ode.
Okunowo described the operation as excessive and unjustified, insisting that the movement had no event scheduled for that day, having earlier postponed its planned empowerment programme.
“You were told that the Inspector-General of Police called off the operation, and indeed he did. But those who initiated the deployment acted unnecessarily. There was no event taking place; they stopped nothing because nothing was happening,” he said.
The group alleged that the deployment was triggered by false intelligence reportedly supplied by a local government official, leading to the blockade of roads and restriction of movement around Obalofin Court.
Describing the action as a “gross abuse of executive power,” the stakeholders warned that such tactics could erode democratic norms and deepen mistrust within the ruling party.
The BAT/OGD Movement also took issue with a recent political gathering in Ogun East, which it claimed was presented as a senatorial caucus meeting but was, in reality, a pre-arranged endorsement of a preferred aspirant.
According to the group, several statutory party leaders were misled into attending the event, only to discover that the process had been skewed.
“Most of the leaders were invited under the guise of a caucus meeting, but on arrival, it became clear that more than half of those present were not qualified to attend such a meeting,” Okunowo stated.
He further alleged that some recognised party stakeholders were denied access to the venue and told it was a “DA show” meant exclusively for loyalists of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
While acknowledging the right of political actors to organise meetings, the group faulted what it described as the use of the APC platform to legitimise a “premeditated endorsement exercise.”
Despite the growing tension, the movement reaffirmed its loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, noting that the party in Ogun State had already adopted him as its consensus presidential candidate for 2027.
It also referenced the reported adoption of Olamilekan Adeola as the party’s consensus governorship candidate, expressing hope that political alignments in the state would stabilise.
However, the stakeholders warned that unilateral endorsements and exclusionary tactics could destabilise the party if not properly managed.
“I don’t believe there is a divided party,” Okunowo said. “But if these issues around consensus and imposition are not carefully handled, they could create that impression.”
He stressed that the APC constitution does not provide for automatic tickets, adding that any consensus candidate must secure the agreement of all aspirants, failing which the party must resort to direct primaries.
“If one aspirant refuses to agree, the party must revert to direct primaries. That is the constitutional provision,” he said.
The group also cautioned against relying on perceived “body language” of the President to justify candidate imposition, noting that such interpretations could be misleading and divisive.
Beyond the political dispute, the BAT/OGD Movement highlighted its grassroots mobilisation efforts across Ogun East, stating that it had successfully conducted community engagement and empowerment programmes in seven out of the nine local government areas in the district since September 2025.
According to the group, the initiative implemented in partnership with organisations such as Emzor Pharmaceuticals and the Eye Foundation, has delivered micro-credit support, medical outreach, and eye care services to thousands of residents.
