Gbenga Daniel’s loyalists reject APC senatorial endorsement as unconstitutional 'kangaroo arrangement'

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Claim: The APC Ogun East senatorial endorsement of Gov. Dapo Abiodun was announced on a Monday at a stakeholders' meeting held at Adeola Odutola Hall in Ijebu-Ode.

Evidence: Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun East Senatorial District endorsed Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election. This endorsement was announced on a Monday at a well-attended gathering held at Adeola Odutola Hall in Ijebu-Ode. Multiple news reports confirmed the event, its location, and the timing of the announcement.

Verdict: True.

Analysis: Various news outlets consistently report the endorsement event details. These accounts specify the Adeola Odutola Hall in Ijebu-Ode as the venue and a Monday as the announcement day, aligning with the claim.

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Claim: APC leaders and stakeholders in Ogun East Senatorial District endorsed Gov. Dapo Abiodun as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

Evidence: All Progressives Congress leaders and stakeholders in Ogun East Senatorial District unanimously endorsed Governor Dapo Abiodun as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election. This decision followed a stakeholders' meeting.

Verdict: True.

Analysis: News reports from multiple sources directly state that APC leaders and stakeholders in the Ogun East Senatorial District endorsed Governor Abiodun for the 2027 senatorial election. This detail is consistently presented across accounts of the event.

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Claim: The Electoral Act recently signed into law by the president does not provide for endorsements; it only recognizes consensus by agreement or direct primaries, making any other endorsement null and void.

Evidence: Mr. Tayo Onayemi, a loyalist of Senator Gbenga Daniel, stated, "There is nothing like endorsement in the Electoral Act recently signed into law by the president. What we have is consensus by agreement or direct primaries; anything short of this is null and void." He argued that any endorsement outside constitutional provisions remains invalid.

Verdict: Mostly False.

Analysis: The Electoral Act of 2022 outlines formal procedures for candidate nomination, including direct primaries, indirect primaries, and consensus. A consensus requires the written agreement of all aspirants. While the Act does not explicitly detail or provide for 'endorsements' as a formal nomination pathway, it also does not broadly declare *any* other endorsement 'null and void.' This claim represents an interpretation of the law, suggesting that a political endorsement, distinct from a formal nomination process, is automatically invalidated. The Act primarily focuses on the established methods for selecting official party candidates, not on every declaration of political support.

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The coming weeks will reveal how the APC's internal structures respond to these constitutional interpretations and political contestations.