Ogun LG polls: Ex-PDP gov’ship candidate detained by DSS
Hon. Ladi Adebutu, the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election in Ogun state has been reported to have been detained by the State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) late Monday evening.
The Informant247 reports that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner of the Ogun state local government elections held on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
The elections saw participation from 19 political parties, including the Accord Party, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, Allied People’s Movement, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party, People’s Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Action People’s Party, Action Alliance, Boot Party (BP), People’s Redemption Party, National Rescue Movement, and Zenith Labour Party.
According to LEADERSHIP newspaper, Adebutu, who had earlier in the day, joined members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the PDP to address a press conference over the recently concluded local government election in the state, was later picked up and detained by the secret police service as he was refused bail.
Although no official reason has been advanced for his arrest and eventual detention, LEADERSHIP however, gathered that his travail may not be unconnected with an incident which occurred during the local government election held in the state last Saturday, where the former governorship candidate was alleged to have mobilised thugs and illegal police operatives to disrupt the exercise at his Iperu hometown in Ikenne local government area of Ogun State.
Adebutu has, however, denied the allegation, stressing that some hoodlums attempted to kill his son, leading to an exchange of fire between them and his security details.
Meanwhile, the state’s Publicity Secretary of his party, the PDP, Kayode Adebayo confirmed Adebutu’s arrest and detention via a statement he released in Abeokuta late Monday evening in a statement, saying Adebutu was invited for questioning by the DSS operatives on the ground of the disturbance during the last Saturday’s local government elections in the state.
The statement reads in part: “This is to inform the members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party that the leader of the party has truly been detained by the DSS for charges yet unknown.
“However, our principal has called for calm and directed that all members of the party, supporters and well-wishers should be rest assured that this time shall pass, it is one of the prices for our democracy.”
Adebayo said several efforts have been made to secure his bail as of 10 pm on Monday, 18th November 2024 either on personal recognition or by a surety, but none yielded any result so far.
“His lawyers have been informed and they will take it up by tomorrow (Tuesday) morning”.
“By this release, we want our people and the general public to be duly informed about his whereabouts and to maintain calm and peace until this matter is resolved,” Adebayo said.
Source: LEADERSHIP newspaper
