Olamilekan Abayomi
Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has been declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress Ogun East Senatorial District primary election held on Monday, May 18, 2026. The result was announced by the Chief Returning Officer for Ogun East, Dr. Wale Bello, who said Abiodun polled 75,550 votes out of 99,503 total votes cast across the district’s nine local government areas. The margin left little doubt about the outcome, with former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel scoring 398 votes and Bukola Braimoh getting 29 votes. The exercise was part of APC’s nationwide primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The breakdown from the returning officer showed Abiodun winning overwhelmingly in every LGA. In Sagamu he got 8,434 votes to Daniel’s zero, in Ijebu North East 5,655 to 12, and in Ikenne 8,226 to none for both challengers. He also dominated Remo North with 7,034 votes, Ijebu-Ode with 10,942, Ogun Waterside with 6,958, Odogbolu with 7,989, Ijebu East with 7,058, and Ijebu North with 13,469. Party officials described the process as peaceful and orderly, with Abiodun himself voting at Ward 3, Ita Osanyin, Iperu-Remo, and commending members for their discipline during the exercise.
Abiodun’s victory sets up a direct contest for the Ogun East seat currently held by Gbenga Daniel, who was notably absent from the voting exercise. Daniel’s media aide said he stayed away for safety reasons to avoid violence, while Abiodun dismissed claims of disruption and said the result reflected genuine democracy. The governor’s camp had earlier argued that the senatorial ticket was not Daniel’s birthright, pointing out that consensus arrangements are allowed under the Electoral Act and had been used before, including when Daniel himself emerged through consensus after Senator Lekan Mustapha stepped down.
In his acceptance speech, Abiodun thanked party members and residents for the confidence reposed in him, calling the result a vote of confidence in his administration. He promised quality representation if elected and recalled that he had contested the same senatorial seat 29 years ago and won, though he was never sworn in. He said the experience made him appreciate the outcome more, noting that after several political frustrations he eventually became governor in 2019 and now has another chance to serve at the federal level.
The outcome also fits into the broader pattern of APC primaries in Ogun State, where incumbents generally held sway. In Ogun Central, Senator Shuaib Salisu secured the ticket with 85,000 votes, while in Ogun West Jimoh Ojugbele clinched the ticket after other aspirants, including Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, reportedly stepped down. Abiodun described the conduct across the state as peaceful and said the party’s unity would position it well for 2027. He thanked party leaders, delegates, INEC officials, and security agencies for ensuring a smooth process.
For Ogun East, the primary effectively shifts the political battle from intra-party contest to the general election, with Abiodun now positioned as APC’s candidate. The result underscores his control of the party structure in the district and gives him a platform to argue that his administration’s track record deserves a national stage. Whether the outcome stands without post-primary litigation remains to be seen, but for now the governor has secured the ticket he said he had waited decades to win.
