Ogun State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) late Monday evening detained the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election in the state, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
Adebutu, who had earlier in the day, joined members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the PDP to address a press conference over the recently concluded local government election in the state, was later picked up and detained by the secret police service as he was refused bail.
Although no official reason has been advanced for his arrest and eventual detention, LEADERSHIP however, gathered that his travail may not be unconnected with an incident which occurred during the local government election held in the state last Saturday.
The former governorship candidate was alleged to have mobilised thugs and illegal police operatives to disrupt the exercise at his Iperu hometown in Ikenne local government area of Ogun State.
Adebutu has however, denied the allegation, stressing that some hoodlums attempted to kill his son, leading to an exchange of fire between them and his security details.
Meanwhile, the state’s Publicity Secretary of his party, the PDP, Kayode Adebayo confirmed Adebutu’s arrest and detention via a statement he released in Abeokuta late Monday evening.
Adebayo in the statement, copy of which was obtained by LEADERSHIP, explained that Adebutu was invited for questioning by the DSS operatives on the ground of the disturbance during the last Saturday’s local government elections in the state.
The statement reads in part: “This is to inform the members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party that the leader of the party has truly been detained by the DSS for charges yet unknown.
“However, our principal has called for calm and directed that all members of the party, supporters and well-wishers should be rest assured that this time shall pass, it is one of the prices for our democracy.”
Adebayo said several efforts have been made to secure his bail as at 10pm on Monday, 18th November, 2024 either on personal recognition or by a surety, but none yielded any result so far.
“His lawyers have been informed and they will take it up by tomorrow (Tuesday) morning”.
“By this release, we want our people and the general public to be duly informed about his whereabouts and to maintain calm and peace until this matter is resolved,” Adebayo said.
