Dapo Abiodun, OGD’s War Gets Messier

Just when many thought the simmering feud between the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had finally cooled, the rivalry has taken a fresh twist. Last Monday, residents were jolted by news of a renewed face-off, with the state government reportedly issuing a demolition order on all properties belonging to the senator representing Ogun East, including his private residence and hotels. 

This move comes despite mounting public outcry and growing tensions across Ogun State, with many accusing the governor of using state machinery to target political rivals. Though the official notices alleged violations of planning and development regulations, critics have argued that the timing and choice of target are not mere coincidences.

Political analysts believe the action is part of an escalating cold war between the governor and the former two-term leader of the state, whose influence in Ogun politics remains formidable. Many also recall that Gbenga Daniel played a key role in the 2019 political calculations that helped Abiodun clinch power, making the governor’s latest move appear as both a betrayal and a warning shot to other perceived opponents.

The latest demolition order, described by many in the state as a pattern of Gestapo-style operations, has been described as a repeat of the midnight demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu-Ode in 2023. That demolition, which was carried out in the early hours of a Sunday when courts and offices were closed, remains fresh in public memory. That operation, targeting a property linked to Daniel’s wife, bore all the hallmarks of political intimidation rather than administrative necessity.
To avoid a repeat, Otunba Daniel has cried out. But he did not stop at that, as he also went to court to obtain a restraining order, which was granted. The Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu issued ex parte orders restraining the state government from demolishing or interfering with properties linked to him. The orders, issued on Tuesday in three separate suits by Justice W.T. Ogundele, will remain in effect pending a hearing on August 19, 2025.

According to an expert on legal matters, the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 cannot retroactively apply to a building completed in 2004. The principle of non-retroactivity in law is clear: a new statute cannot be used to penalise acts or developments lawfully carried out under previous regulations unless the law explicitly states otherwise.

“The Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, in what resembles administrative aggression, served a contravention notice, a notice to quit, and a threat of demolition within three days, all initiated the same day. This is not how town planning enforcement works. Where there is doubt about approvals or documentation, the law prescribes that the appropriate first step is a Demand Notice, essentially a request for the property owner to present documents for verification. Only after establishing a genuine violation should a contravention notice be issued, followed by a window for compliance or rectification.
“By skipping straight to demolition threats, the government has signalled that it is not interested in due process. The speed and severity of the action betray a predetermined, politically motivated plan rather than an impartial enforcement of urban development laws,” the expert explained.

The government has, however, denied any political undertones in its actions, stating that the notices are part of a routine urban renewal audit.
As tension simmers, all eyes are now on whether Daniel will challenge the legality of the sealing in court or not. Perhaps, this is merely the opening chapter of a deeper political battle that could shape Ogun’s future.