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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Ogun APC senatorial aspirant denies stepping down for Amosun

From The Punch · (Apr 25) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Muraina Banjoko, an aspirant for the Ogun Central Senatorial District seat, denies stepping down for Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
  • Banjoko refutes claims that his entry into the race was a ploy to boost numbers before yielding to Amosun.
  • He states that no official decision on consensus or zoning has been made by the party leadership, and aspirants await further directives.

Muraina Banjoko, a prominent aspirant for the Ogun Central Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has forcefully denied reports suggesting he has stepped down for former governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Banjoko, also known as Threeco, has dismissed these claims as false and misleading, asserting that his participation in the race remains active.

We were all invited to the Ogun Central Senatorial Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abeokuta to decide on a consensus candidate for the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket.

— Muraina BanjokoExplaining the purpose of the meeting where claims of him stepping down emerged.

The controversy arose following a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, where Senator Amosun reportedly listed Banjoko and three other aspirants as having agreed to withdraw from the race. However, Banjoko has unequivocally rejected this assertion, stating that no such agreement was made. He emphasized that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the possibility of a consensus candidate, but no official decision has been reached by the party leadership regarding consensus or zoning in the district.

Former governor Amosun, at the meeting, claimed that myself and three others had agreed to step down for him.

— Muraina BanjokoAddressing the specific claim made by Senator Amosun at the stakeholders' meeting.

Banjoko questioned the basis of Amosun's claim, noting that he had not engaged in any recent discussions with the former governor that would warrant such an announcement. He clarified that his last communication with Amosun was in July 2025, and no subsequent talks about stepping down have occurred.

No official position has been taken by the leadership of the party in Ogun Central District now. We are waiting for further communication on the matter.

— Muraina BanjokoClarifying the current status of party decisions regarding the senatorial ticket.

Appealing to his supporters to remain calm, Banjoko stressed that any decision regarding his senatorial ambition would involve extensive consultations with his political base and stakeholders. He reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC while maintaining his commitment to his campaign, awaiting further directives from the party leadership.

Where did I step down for him? The last time we had any communication was in July 2025, and we have not had any discussion since then.

— Muraina BanjokoQuestioning the validity of the claim and detailing his lack of recent communication with Amosun.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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