Tension gripped Ijebu-Ode on Wednesday as heavily armed police operatives barricaded the popular Obanta Club, against a planned BATOGD Community Assessment and Review rally linked to former governor Gbenga Daniel.
Security forces moved in at dawn, sealing off major access roads and mounting a cordon around the residence of the ex-governor. Eyewitnesses described a tense atmosphere as patrol vans and armed officers prevented supporters from gathering, forcing many to retreat.
The crackdown comes barely 48 hours after Senator Daniel was denied entry to a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress in Ijebu-Ode—an incident that has intensified concerns over deepening cracks within the ruling party.
The BATOGD rally, part of a grassroots engagement tour across Ogun East Senatorial District, had already covered seven of the nine local governments since its launch last year. Wednesday’s disruption, however, halted what supporters described as a critical mobilisation effort ahead of the 2027 political cycle.
Sources familiar with the situation alleged the police action followed directives linked to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, amid an escalating rivalry with Senator Daniel over control of party structures and the Ogun East senatorial ticket.
The growing feud between the two political heavyweights has, in recent weeks, spilled into the public space, raising fears of a potential fracture within the APC in Ogun State.
Supporters of the former governor have condemned the police presence as an abuse of state power and a calculated move to stifle political participation. However, neither the Ogun State Government nor police authorities had issued an official statement at the time of filing this report.
Political observers warn that the latest development signals a dangerous escalation—from internal party disagreements to what many now view as suppression of political mobilisation.
As tensions continue to rise, residents and party loyalists across Ogun East remain on edge, with concerns mounting over the possible impact of the crisis on the APC’s unity and electoral prospects ahead of 2027.
