Democracy Under Siege: Ogun PDP Condemns LG Election Irregularities, State-Sponsored Terrorism

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The Ogun State Local Government election was described as ugly, with allegations of violence and intimidation against PDP leaders and supporters.

Hon. Ladi Adebutu the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate accused Governor Dapo Abiodun and his administration of harassment, assault, and trampling on democracy.

Adebutu while addressing the Journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital on Monday, also lamented that the situation on Saturday escalated into violence, alleging that thugs sponsored by Governor Dapo Abiodun, were attacking PDP leaders and supporters.

He equally narrated how the secretary of the party was allegedly assaulted, adding that he was also targeted by four armed men who opened fire on him and his security men.

Adebutu claimed that despite paying all required fees to the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), his party faced hostility.

“This is a clear case of state-sponsored terrorism. The governor’s Chief Security Officer led the attack on my neighborhood, and Abiodun was seen riding with hoodlums, “Adebutu alleged.

“Four armed men open fire on me. When this was reported they said that I should not have been moving around during the election. The CSO of Governor Abiodun was riding around with hoodlums”, Adebutu alleged.

Claims on Irregularities and Discrepancies of the Polls as States by PDP!!!

Over 4,000 polling units reported nonexistent voting materials, yet OGSIEC claimed elections were held. PDP claimed.

Election materials were delivered in some cases, but vote counts didn’t match.

Winners were declared in wards with no voting.

PDP Chairman Abayomi Tella condemned OGSIEC’s failure to ensure a free and fair election.

He emphasized that the people’s voices were silenced, and the state’s local government has been comatose since 2011.

The PDP Chieftain regretted that his party paid all required fees to the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to prevent disenfranchisement, but their efforts were met with hostility.

According to Tella, reports from over 4,000 polling units indicated that voting materials were nonexistent, yet the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) claimed that elections were held.

“This is not just a mere discrepancy; it’s a deliberate attempt to manipulate the outcome of the election,” Tella alleged.

“In many wards, there was no voting, yet winners were declared. Where did this voting take place?”, he wondered.

The Chairman also criticized OGSIEC for failing to deliver on its promise of a free and fair election.

“The people of Ogun State came out on Saturday to change the narrative, to reject incompetency, but their voices were silenced,” he said.

The PDP chairman also lamented the state of local government in Ogun State, describing it as comatose since 2011. “We are not making a mockery of democracy in this state. It’s not worth it,” he emphasized.