By Charles Adingupu
There was commotion at the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta on Monday as suspected thugs of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their numbers besieged the premises.
As the Tribunal commenced hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), violence reportedly erupted.
The APC and the PDP had both mobilised their members to be at the tribunal for solidarity.
However, political thugs stormed the venue of the tribunal with canes, otherwise known as pankere, attacking perceived opponents while police officers and other security agents watched.
Although, the road leading to the court was barricaded at both ends by the police, it did not prevent the hoodlums from attacking their targets.
As the political thugs roamed about with canes in their hands, the police made no attempt to arrest or stop them from causing chaos.
A policeman said, “there is nothing we can do, we can’t arrest them. Everything about Ogun is always different.”
A PDP member, who was attacked by the thugs, said he lost his phone, money and other valuables while being beaten.
As of the time of filing this report, members of the PDP have fled the court premises to avoid further attacks.
An indigene of the community who prefers anonymity, said the sad event has become a recurring decimal as at the end of every election, party thugs unleashed violence on unsuspecting people in the state.
