A former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Saturday, emerged the All Progressives Congress candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.
Daniel, fondly called OGD by his supporters, won the APC ticket after polling 450 votes to defeat incumbent Senator Lekan Mustapha and two other aspirants at the election held at Itoro Hall, Ijebu-Ode.
APC Returning Officer, Taiwo Egbeyemi, who announced the results of the primary, said Daniel polled a total of 450 votes to emerge the winner. Senator Mustapha, who polled 29 votes came a distant second while Otunba Seyi Oduntan speculated as Governor Dapo Abiodun’s anointed candidate, got only 11 votes.
Former deputy governor, Segun Adesegun, polled six votes, according to official results.
The total number of delegates for the primary election were 515 while the total votes cast were 496.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mustapha, Daniel’s main challenger, withdrew from the contest while voting was still ongoing and about three Local Government delegates had voted.
His withdrawal was announced at the venue of the primary election by his ally, former Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye.
Sen. Mustapha’s withdrawal was influenced by the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. The revered ruler, it was learnt, advised the senator to step down honourably to avoid his impending defeat and needless bickering with his former boss.
There was massive jubilation by teeming APC members at the venue of the primaries following the official declaration of Otunba Daniel as winner of the contest.