The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of targeting former governor and current Senator Gbenga Daniel by ordering the demolition of some of his properties.
The party frames the destruction as rooted in their competing aspirations for the Ogun East senatorial seat in the 2027 elections.
Daniel’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, explained that on August 8, notices of contravention, quit, and demolition threats were posted at The Asoludero Court, Conference Hotels Limited, and its annex in Sagamu.
These documents cited violations of the 2022 Urban and Regional Planning Law, a law enacted long after the structures were built.
Daniel’s statement described the accusations as “a ludicrous and flimsy excuse”, noting:
“For instance, the Asoludero Court was built in 2004, while the Conference Hotel Sagamu was built in 2013, and the annex since 2015.”
“The governor’s administration is now attempting to use the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 to demolish buildings that were legally constructed long before the law was even in existence.”
He condemned the procedure used as “a blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law.” The statement added:
“The notices themselves are clear breaches of procedures, which allow adequate time intervals between notifications on contraventions, quits, and the penalties… Governor Abiodun’s administration has completely bypassed this procedure, issuing a ‘Notice of Contravention’ and a ‘Notice to Quit’ simultaneously, with an immediate threat of demolition.”
In defense, Kayode Akinmade, the governor’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, called Daniel out for framing routine regulatory duty as vendetta.
“Nobody is bigger than the state… He should submit himself unreservedly to the same laws he once swore twice to uphold… No one should assign impure motives to a routine procedure.”
Akinmade explained the demolitions were part of a broader “urban renewal” and audit of Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) across the state, not targeted at any individual. He said:
“All Daniel needed to do was to have provided the government-approved documents for his properties in the Government Reserved Area.”
Political tensions were further captured by Dr. Sunday Solarin, the PDP’s State Secretary, who labeled the demolitions an abuse of the governor’s power.
“This is nothing but abuse of office, which is condemnable… At the centre of this brouhaha is the Ogun East senatorial seat, which Abiodun is eyeing… and Daniel too is also re‑contesting.”
Solarin called the action intimidatory, drawing attention to the fact that Daniel owns properties in other states “Lagos, Abuja” none of which are being targeted.
“It is bad belle politics that should be condemned by all.”
