The Directorate of State Services (DSS) has detained Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, forty eight hours after the conduct of controversial local government election in the state .
PLATFORM TIMES reports that Adebutu was detained over sundry allegations, including alleged violence during the just-concluded local government elections in the state.
Adebutu reportedly honoured an invitation by the DSS but was subsequently detained on Monday, raising concerns within the PDP and its supporters.
The local government elections, held on Saturday across Ogun State’s 20 local government areas and 236 wards, were largely won by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the polls were marred by allegations of violence, with Adebutu accused of harboring policemen drafted from Lagos at his residence and allegedly instructing them to shoot a vice-chairmanship candidate of the APC.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, confirmed Adebutu’s detention in a statement issued late Monday evening.
“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.
“Several efforts have been made to secure his bail as of 10 pm on Monday, November 18, 2024, either on personal recognition or by a surety, but none has 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,” the statement read.
Earlier on Monday, before his detention, Adebutu had addressed journalists in Abeokuta, where he expressed his commitment to free and fair elections at the grassroots level.
“Free and fair elections at the local government level are the foundation for good governance,” Adebutu stated.
“Once you don’t have competition and participation at this level, you fail to serve the people. We want to serve the people; that is the essence of government.”
Adebutu was scheduled to appear on a popular radio programme in Abeokuta to discuss the controversies surrounding the local government elections but could not attend due to his detention.
Speaking at the press conference, the PDP Chairman in Ogun State, Abayomi Tella, took a swipe at the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, alleging mismanagement of funds and a lack of compassion for the people of the state.
“It is not Dapo Abiodun alone. There is consistently a system where money is released, and it depreciates in value because it is used to buy forex.
“I’m not saying Dapo is carrying it to buy forex, but you can postulate yourselves,” Tella said.
He also criticized the governor’s silence over a report labeling him the fifth richest governor in Nigeria.
“If somebody made that kind of publication about me, I would take them to court, but this man says nothing.
“Meanwhile, the state is hungry, and palliatives meant for the people are rotting away. This lack of compassion is saddening for Ogun State and Nigeria,” Tella concluded.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that as of Monday night, efforts to secure Adebutu’s release had been unsuccessful.
It was further gathered that his legal team is expected to escalate the matter on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the PDP has urged its supporters to remain calm as the party navigates what it describes as a test of democracy.
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