APC, PDP Supporters Clash as  Ogun Governorship Tribunal Begins Sitting

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, yesterday, commenced hearing of the petition filed by the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

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.

The premises of the Magistrate Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, was tension-soaked, as  hundreds of APC and PDP supporters stormed the court in solidarity with  their parties.

They were, however, prevented from gaining access into 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 Defence who dispersed the supporters before peace could be restored.

The road leading to the court was also blocked, preventing vehicular movement on Isabo-Kuto Road.

The supporters, however, re-converged on the road opposite the court premises, a development which sparked anxiety as many of them came with canes.

An argument, reportedly ensued, when a former Governorship Aspirant of PDP, Chief Segun Sowunmi attempted to enter the court premises claiming to be a major stakeholder.

Sowunmi was allegedly attacked as parties’ supporters clashed  on the Isabo-Kuto Road.

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 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 PDP yesterday  condemned in the violent attack on its members, including  Sowunmi, journalists and other Nigerians.

In a statement the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba,  said that the PDP is aware that the attack by the APC is aimed at instilling fear, disrupting the proceedings of the Tribunal, creating a siege mentality on the people and the Judiciary so as to truncate the delivery of justice in the Petition filed by the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, against the manifest rigging of the Ogun State Governorship election in favour of APC candidate, Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The  spokesman said that information available to the PDP indicated that the hoodlums were mobilised by APC leaders who are in mortal fear that the APC’s manipulations and rigging in the Ogun State Governorship election will be exposed at the Tribunal.

According to Ologunagba, “the  attack by the APC is a direct assault on the institution of the Judiciary, the Election Tribunal and a serious threat to the sustenance of Democracy in our country.

“Our party is distressed that the attack by the APC on our leaders and members, journalists and other innocent Nigerians reportedly occurred in the full glare of police operatives and other security agents, who were said to have made no attempt to arrest or stop the APC hoodlums from unleashing violence at the Tribunal. Such scenario is indicting on Nigeria’s security authorities which requires urgent attention.”

The PDP therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to direct an immediate investigation into the security lapses that might have paved way for such unchecked attack on the institution of the Judiciary and other innocent Nigerians at the premises of the Electoral Tribunal.

“Our party, standing with the people of Ogun State, demands that those behind the attack must be tracked down and brought to book immediately especially as there are ample evidence from video recordings of this shameful and dastardly action by the APC sponsored hoodlums.”, the PDP spokesman said.

The PDP, however, stated that the people of Ogun State and the PDP will never be deterred or cowed by the APC to give up the legitimate and constitutional pursuit for the recovery of the mandate freely given to our Party and Governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, and nothing will change that resolve.

“Our party also calls on all our members, supporters and people of Ogun State to remain calm but at alert and ready to use every means within the ambit of the law to resist the APC in its plots to disrupt the Tribunal and subvert the course of justice in the matter,” he stressed.

 However,  Ogun State Government has denied any purported attack on Sowunmi,  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 the venue late, were affected.

According to the permanent secretary, 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 political quagmire.