Rita Odafe
Ladi Adebutu, who was the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, was allegedly asked to appear at the Ogun State Police Command in Abeokuta.
This request is thought to be connected to supposed disturbances during the local government elections on November 16, 2024, which resulted in the APC winning all seats.
While the police have not officially confirmed these reports, sources have informed Channels TV that Adebutu is currently being held at the police headquarters in Ogun State.
He is facing allegations of hiring around 40 unofficial police officers from Lagos and supposedly organizing PDP supporters to disrupt the electoral process.
This comes shortly after he was questioned by the Department of State Services (DSS) the previous day.
After his release from DSS on November 19, 2024, Adebutu dismissed the charges as groundless, characterizing his detention as an attempt to stifle opposing viewpoints.
“I was released by the Department of State Services in Abeokuta around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, after addressing various unfounded claims related to the local elections in Ogun State,” Adebutu stated.
“These allegations lack substance, and their primary intent is to silence my voice as part of the opposition. Criticizing the electoral integrity is my right, protected by free speech,” he emphasized.
Adebutu also reinforced the necessity for financial autonomy for local governments, advocating for this through fair and transparent elections.
He mentioned that this perspective is shared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, viewing it as a national development initiative that transcends political lines.
