OGUN, Nigeria – The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has voiced strong condemnation of the violent assault on its members, including party leader in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi, journalists, and other Nigerians that took place on Monday, June 5, 2023.
In response, the party has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the incident.
These developments were communicated in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja.
Ologunagba alleged that the assault was perpetrated by thugs mobilized by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to disrupt the proceedings of the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal in Isabo, Abeokuta.
According to the PDP spokesperson, the attack was an attempt to intimidate, disrupt the tribunal proceedings, and exert pressure on the judiciary and the public, thus hindering the delivery of justice in the petition filed by the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, against the alleged rigging of the Ogun State Governorship election in favour of the APC candidate, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Ologunagba asserted that the assault was a direct attack on the institution of the judiciary and the election tribunal, posing a serious threat to the sustainability of democracy in Nigeria.
Despite the presence of police operatives and other security agents at the time of the attack, no efforts were made to stop the violence or arrest the perpetrators.
The PDP has called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, to immediately investigate this security lapse.
The PDP insists that those responsible for the attack must be immediately brought to justice, as ample evidence exists in video recordings of the incident.
Despite these threats, the PDP assured that it, along with the people of Ogun State, will not be deterred from pursuing the recovery of the mandate freely given to its governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
