The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Kayode Adebayo, on Monday, confirmed that the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, has been detained by operatives of the Department of State Services.
Adebayo disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists.
He said, “This is to inform members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, that the leader of the party has indeed been detained by the DSS on charges yet unknown.
“However, our principal has called for calm and directed all members, supporters, and well-wishers to remain assured that this time shall pass. It is one of the prices of our democracy.
“Several efforts have been made to secure his bail as of 10 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2024, either on personal recognition or through a surety, but none has yielded results so far. His lawyers have been informed and will address the matter on Tuesday morning.”
The Secretary of the state PDP chapter, Dr Sunday Solarin, earlier clarified that Adebutu was not arrested but voluntarily honoured a DSS invitation concerning the conduct of the Local Government elections held on Saturday.
The government has accused Adebutu of deploying illegal police officers to perpetrate violence during the election in the Iperu area of the state.
These officers allegedly shot the newly elected Vice Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Mohammed Efuwape, and another voter, identified simply as Biola.
In a briefing on Monday, Adebutu accused Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun of using the military, the police, and armed hoodlums to unleash terror on opposition members during the elections.
Adebutu alleged that the hoodlums, allegedly working for the governor, shot at police officers escorting one of his aides during voting.
He further claimed that one of the police officers attached to him was injured during the attack, while a gun taken by the hoodlums was later found in the possession of the governor’s Chief Security Officer.
Adebutu also accused the governor of moving around in two buses loaded with hoodlums who were used to perpetrate violence during the election.