Ahead of APC govs visit to Ogun, ex-Governor Daniel joins ruling party

Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressive Congress.

Daniel was a strong member of the main opposition party, having led the campaign team of defeated presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku.

Daniel is expected to pick up the membership card of APC today.

In a statement, Daniel apologised to his former party for the short notice, stating that his support for Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, was a pointer.

He explained that the decision took a speedy curve with the request of the national caretaker chairman of APC to visit him along with three governors.

“I thought I should quickly brief the house before the news goes viral,” he said.

The statement read in part, “Dear friends & colleagues, pardon my short notice in informing you of my route to the APC which as you might have suspected started with my supporting Governor Dapo Abiodun during the last election.

“I have since experienced an avalanche of encouragement to come on board. However in the last 48 hours, things took a dizzying speed with the decision of the APC national chairman’s request to visit me at Asoludero on Wed with about 3 governors. While planning for the visit Governor Abiodun also decided to visit me later today with another set of governors later today. It therefore means that I have finally been ‘captured’

“I thought I should quickly brief the house before the news goes viral. Thanks for your understanding – OTUNBA GBENGA DANIELS.”

Daniel is expected to meet with the Chairman of the caretaker committee of the APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, on Wednesday.

Expected to be part of the meeting are governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State.

Daniel’s defection announcement came barely 24 hours after former Social Democratic Party, SDP, governorship candidate in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, formally joined the APC.