Ogun governorship election tribunal begins sitting, as APC, PDP supporters clash outside court premise
The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Monday, commenced hearing of the petition filed by the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adebutu, among things, is seeking an order of the Tribunal to declare him as the winner of the election, alleging that the election was fraught with violence, irregularities and rigging.
There was a mild drama at the gate of the Magistrate court, Isabo, venue of the Tribunal as hundreds of APC and PDP supporters stormed the court in solidarity with their parties.
They were however prevented from gaining access to the court premises as security operatives took charge of the situation.
It took the intervention of fully armed security operatives, comprising the police, DSS and Civil Defense who dispersed the supporters before peace could be restored.
The road leading to the court was also blocked preventing vehicular movement.
The supporters however re-converged on the road opposite the court premises, a development which sparked anxiety.
The Tribunal however began its sitting amidst tension as suspected political thugs “invaded” the court with canes and other weapons.
A Governorship aspirant of the PDP, Segun Showunmi was allegedly attacked.
In his address, the Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Hamidu Kunaza disclosed that the Tribunal received four petitions, adding that two of the petitions had been struck out.
Kunaza who warned the legal teams of both APC and PDP not to mislead the court and adopting “delay tactics” in the proceedings, urged them to cooperate with the Tribunal.
He assured the parties of fair justice and satisfaction at the end of the hearing.
Kunaza however, adjourned till Tuesday, June 13 for continuation of the hearing.
Addressing journalists, Counsel to the petitioner, Chris Uche (SAN) said, “We have lined up the witnesses that we intend to call, about 120 of them. Within the next four weeks, we will fill in these witnesses, including our expert witnesses.
“We are very hopeful that this case will be dealt with expeditiously, we are here to search for the truth and to search for justice.”
Counsel to Abiodun, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) expressed optimism that the Tribunal would discharge its duties without fear or favour.
Osipitan said, “People can allege anything but he who alleges must proof, let them come and proof, that is why we are here and we are waiting for them to bring their evidence to support whatever they are claiming.”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State government has denied any purported attack on Showunmi, saying no such attack happened at the premises of the tribunal, which is been protected by a retinue of security personnel.
The State government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr Waheed Adesina denied the allegation that political thugs attacked the PDP chieftain, saying nothing could be farther from the truth.
Explaining what happened, the permanent secretary said that some members of the public, who had attempted to gain entrance into the tribunal to observe its proceedings were prevented from doing so as the tribunal members ordered that the gate of the Magistrate Court be shut immediately sitting commenced.
The statement said a large number of APC and PDP supporters, including other neutral observers who had arrived at the venue late were affected.
According to the permanent secretary, Mr Sowunmi later came and mounted pressure on the security agents at the gate to allow him access after identifying himself as a stakeholder.
The attempt to open the gate for him angered the crowd outside, which resulted in a mild protest and resistance to the move as the people felt he should not enjoy any preferential treatment.
According to the statement, the protest has no political colouration as it was spontaneous and carried out by all those outside the premises of the tribunal, including PDP and APC members and the general public, who felt that they are also important as well as stakeholders in the state.
The statement warned against the spread of fake and unsubstantiated stories that could plunge the state into a political quagmire.
