The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday questioned the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, over the violence witnessed during last Saturday’s local government election in the state.
According to the PDP, Adebutu was invited by the DSS and honoured the invitation.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, swore in the newly elected chairmen of the state’s local governments, challenging them to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
Ogun State conducted its local government election on Saturday, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winning all 20 chairman and 236 councillorship seats in the state.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun said, “As the closest tier of government, you are expected to formulate policies and implement programmes that impact positively and improve the lives of the people in your respective local government areas.
“The elections are over, and you are now leaders for all. Be fair and just to everyone, and focus on delivering development to every corner of the state.
“God has chosen you for this responsibility, not because you are better than others, but because it pleases Him. Use this opportunity to serve diligently”.
Abiodun stressed that it was imperative for the council bosses to key into the state government’s development agenda by aligning with the ISEYA mantra just as he advised them to embrace innovation to generate revenue for the development of their councils.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area, Olasile Odulate, appreciated the governor and the people of the state for the confidence reposed in them, pledging that the newly elected chairmen would uphold the principles of good governance and deliver impactful leadership to the people in their respective councils.
The development comes as the Department of State Services invited the state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Oladipupo Adebutu, over the violence at Iperu during the local government election on Saturday.
Speaking during the swearing-in of the new chairmen, the governor said security agents would investigate some individuals who imported illegal security operatives to disrupt the election on Saturday.
“I want to commend our law enforcement agencies for thwarting attempts by some individuals to disrupt the election.
“Let me assure you that the events in Iperu are under thorough investigation. Anyone found guilty — no matter their rank or influence — will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”, he stated.
On Monday evening the DSS invited Adebutu over the Iperu incident.
Confirming the development, the state Secretary of the PDP, Dr Sunday Solarin, said Adebutu went to the DSS on an invitation by operatives of the agency.
Solarin said Adebutu and the party chairman, Abayomi Tella, reported themselves to the DSS office in Abeokuta to honour the invitation sent to them over the election.
“Hon Adebutu and the party chairman, Hon Tella, were not arrested by the DSS as being circulated.
“Rather, they only went to honour the invitation sent to them and we are expecting them to be back any moment from now”, he said.
Solarin confirmed that the invitation was in connection with the conduct of the local government election.
Earlier on Monday, Adebutu at a press briefing, accused the governor of using the military and the police as well as armed hoodlums to unleash terror on the opposition members during the election.
He alleged that the armed hoodlums allegedly working for the governor shot at the police officers who escorted one of his aides when he went to vote.
He said the gun of one of the police officers attached to him was taken away by the hoodlums before it was later found with the Chief Security Officer of the governor.
He insisted there was no election in the state on Saturday, adding that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission only turned up in less than 1,000 polling units out of the 5,244 polling units in the state.
Speaking at the briefing, the state chairman of the PDP, Tella, said the party would review all that transpired during the election and decide on the next line of action.
Reacting, the state government described the allegation against the governor as a tissue of lies.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described Adebutu as a drowning man finding someone to drag with him into the abyss.
In the statement, Akinmade noted that Ogun State had not witnessed any political violence since Abiodun assumed office, a testament to his peaceful nature.
He noted that contrary to Adebutu’s falsehood, Abiodun, immediately after voting, headed home straight, where he was until the election, after which he decided to return to Ondo State to monitor the governorship election.
