POLITICS

Allegations Against Me Are Baseless – Adebutu 

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The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu has said that the allegations that led to his detention were completely baseless and aimed at silencing him as a voice of the opposition.
Adebutu spoke in a statement after his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday.
The PDP leader was detained in Abeokuta on Monday, after addressing the press on the outcome of the last Saturday governorship election in the state.
Adebutu had criticised the election process, saying that the exercise was not free, fair and credible.
He also accused the Governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun of using security agents and thugs to intimate voters and some leaders of the PDP during the election.
But was reportedly detained, after being accused of bringing ‘illegal’ mobile police officers to the State on the day of the election.
However, Adebutu maintained that his criticism of the election as not being free and fair is a fundamental right to free speech and thought.
He stressed that his advocacy for financial autonomy for local governments and free and fair elections is not a partisan position, but rather a nationalistic one.
He said “Very sadly, the allegations were so baseless that it became clear that their purpose was to silence me as a voice of the opposition.
“My contention that those elections were not free and fair is my fundamental right to free speech and free thought.  My thinking that the Local Government should have financial Autonomy that can only be enforced by free and fair elections is germane to our development.
“Mr President, Senator Bola  Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, shares the same view as mine which shows it is not a partisan position but a nationalistic one.
“However, because of the particular situation of Ogun State over the last five years which I shall publish shortly, desperation has set in to emasculate the third tier of government completely, this is the struggle for our development.
“I seize this opportunity to appreciate our institutions as they gradually continue to grow, I must say I am pleasantly surprised at the professionalism and fairness the Department of State Services has treated this matter till date particularly, during my stay in their office.
“I also acknowledge the judiciary for the forthright judgment we were able to obtain from the Ogun State High Court on Friday, 15th November, 2024 in suit AB/784/2024, a suit filed for the purpose of excluding the Peoples Democratic Party from participating in the Local Government elections.

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