Just In: Thugs Invades Ogun Tribunal, Attack Journalists, Allegedly Beats Politicians, Others To Stupor

Some thugs suspected to be All Progressive Congress (APC) loyalists on Monday besieged the governorship tribunal sitting at the Magistrate Court, Isabo in Abeokuta on Monday June 5, 2023.

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta on Monday commenced hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was gathered that both the APC and the PDP mobilised their members to be at the tribunal for solidarity.

An eyewitness revealed that the thugs, sighted mostly on yellow caps were seen with cane, and other harmful objects.

It was observed that the heavy security presence at the court as early as 7am.

Political thugs stormed the venue of the tribunal with canes, otherwise known as pankere, attacking percieved opponents while police officers and other security agents watched.

Although the road leading to the court was barricaded at both ends by the police, it did not prevent the hoodlums from attacking their targets.

As the political thugs roamed about with canes in their hands, the police made no attempt to arrest or stop them from causing chaos.

A policeman said, “there is nothing we can do, we can’t arrest them. Everything about Ogun is always different.”

The Eaglesforesight correspondent, in company of other journalists were not spared as they were almost beaten up but for the timely intervention of a known party stalwart who informed the thugs of their identity.

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However, Hon.Segun Showunmi, a PDP Chieftain was reportedly beaten to stupor at the court premises. The report reaching our correspondent was that, the Chieftain has been rushed to hospital.

As of the time of filing this report, members of the PDP have fled the court premises to avoid further attacks.

The Ogun state governorship tribunal sitting is expected to determine among other things the true winner of the March 18 governorship election, of which the incumbent Dapo Abiodun was declared winner but is being challenged by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced that Abiodun polled 276,298 to defeat his closest rivals Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 262,383 as well as Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who got 94,754 votes and who has the backing of former governor and serving APC Senator, Ibikunle Amosun.

Thereafter, Adebutu of the PDP has asked the tribunal to direct INEC to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards and 16 of the 20 local government areas of the state.

Adebutu has also alleged that the elections were either not held and or cancelled in the polling units listed because of disruption of the exercise and over-voting.