A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Oladipupo Adetutu, on Monday, described the last Saturday local government election in Ogun, as the worst in the history of 48 years State.
Adebutu flanked by the Chairman of the party, Hon. Abayomi Tella, the Secretary of the party, Hon. Sunday Solarin and the Legal Adviser, Mr. Muyiwa Obanewa, at a news conference, held in Abeokuta, alleged that the election was characterized by electoral malpractices and violence.
He stated that the rights of electorates who went out to perform their civic rights at the election were trampled upon based on the conduct of the exercise.
The gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2023 election said the whole exercise was a scam, which he alleged was rigged by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for the ruling party, APC.
Adebutu said his personal home was under siege while the residences of leaders of the party were invaded.
Our rights were trampled upon on Saturday. Military personnel were unleashed on the civilians. Out of 5,442 polling units in the state, the election did not take place in over 4,000 units. One will then wonder where the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) got all the number of votes they announced.
Adebutu said, “They brought heavy detachment of police to attack my household. They attacked my aides and security details. Hoodlums were unleashed on us. One of my security details was shot and his rifle was carted away by the hoodlums.
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“Efele, a transport union leader was seen in a convoy of policemen driving around during the election to attack PDP supporters and leaders in Odogbolu Local Government Area. Soldiers arrested voters and took them to the Barracks in Ilese-Ijebu.
“I have no personal issues with Governor Abiodun, but I have issues with him on his poor performance in office. His administration has borrowed more money than all the past governments with nothing to show for it. And now, he has successfully supervised an election that is ranked as the worst so far in history of one the leading states in the country.”
Tella, in his remarks, stated that there was no election in over 4000 polling units across the State, and yet the electoral body announced results in the affected units.
“The conduct of the LG election at the weekend was shameful just as unleashing of thugs and soldiers on members of the opposition party was a despicable act,” the chairman said.
Tella said despite the promise by the OGSIEC that the LG election would be free and fair, the state electoral body only put a charade and manipulation.
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