The Peoples Democratic Party, gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 governorship election, Ladi Adebutu, has denied allegations that policemen attached to him opened fire on the All Progressives Congress, APC, vice chairmanship candidate in Ikenne LGA of the state.
A news report had alleged that in an attempt to scuttle Saturday’s LG election, policemen attached to Adebutu opened fire on Muhammed Efuwape, who escaped death with injuries, and one other voter identified as Biola who wasn’t lucky as the gunshots shattered his legs.
The report added that Adebutu brought in over 40 illegal policemen from MOPOL 49 in Lagos, with PDP thugs riding on motorcycles, going around in an attempt to snatch ballot boxes while brandishing guns and other weapons in Ikenne.
Reacting to this, Adebutu, in a statement by his media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, on Sunday, advised members of the APC to stop the lies and own up to their actions.
He explained that since the ruling party had no acceptability in the Ogun East and Ogun West areas of the state, it consistently promoted thuggery, violence and attacks on all PDP members and supporters across the local government.
Adebutu maintained that ballot boxes were not brought to most polling units, and all PDP collation agents in Ogun East were beaten mercilessly and attacked with machetes and some shots.
The statement reads, ” Our attention has been drawn to the lies from the pit of hell propelled by the State Government to cover the intimidation and oppression of the people of Ogun East and Ogun State in general during the 16 November Local Government Elections in the state.
“While we are collating all the evil acts and serious calculated attacks perpetrated by the APC and their hired thugs, it is very necessary that we provide the public with the real fact of what happened at the residence of the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu against their untrue story.
The statement clarified that Adebutu’s son was attacked by thugs close to their house and not a polling unit as widely circulated.
“On the issue, Hon. Adebutu’s son was attacked by a group of thugs in the neighbourhood very close to ADEBUTU’S house, not at a polling unit on his way to the house, while the thugs began to shoot in their usual free day manner, they shot one of the policemen attached to Hon. Adebutu still around his house and not at any polling unit as claimed by the government. The shot policeman was quickly rescued and taken to the hospital.
” The thugs and their paymaster, including the Governor’s security operatives, were all working hand in hand, and they stormed at Hon. Adebutu’s house, claiming it was on the instruction of the Inspector General who had been fed with a wrong account of the incident.
” After about forty minutes, troupes of armed Policemen with armored tanks and trucks numbering over a hundred stormed Hon. ADEBUTU’S house to arrest Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu but he requested for his arrest warrant and they could not produce any. They left his house after about one hour of holding him hostage”.
He, however, appealed to the various agencies, particularly the security agencies, to uphold the truth and avoid being used as a tool of oppression and intimidation of the people.
Ogun LG poll: Adebutu denies attack on APC vice chairmanship candidate
