Ogun PDP, APC exchange words on alleged vote-buying

…Allegation against APC, Abiodun afterthought, baseless – Oladunjoye, APC Spokesman

…PDP gives 72hr ultimatum to Police

By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

It has been a round of sizzling words exchange between the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in the last elections, Hon.Ladi Adebutu and the Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP had earlier accused the APC of vote buying during the last elections.

The party also alleged the reluctance of the state police command to release to the public the report of allegation of vote buying as levelled by the party against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the March 18 governorship election.

The Ogun State Chairman of the party, Hon Sikirulahi Ogundele adddresing journalists at the party secretariat disclosed that the opposition party gave the police 72 hours ultimatum to make public the report of the vote buying allegation against Gov Abiodun and the ruling party.

Hon Ogundele said that “in support of our petition and in addition to the evidence made available to the police by our party which have aided a thorough investigation of our petition, the police questioned enough witnesses, got facts and information which we believed to have enriched the report that had since been concluded yet the police have refused to submit and release the findings and report of the investigation”.

He said “Information at our disposal indicates that the findings clearly established the diversion of Ogun State funds for the purpose of buying votes to ensure the re-election of Dapo Abiodun, who was roundly rejected by the majority of the Ogun State electorate which led the governor and APC to resort to ballot snatching, poll disruption,  destruction of electoral materials as well as physical attacks on supporters and sympathizers of our party, PDP”.

The PDP also faulted the Federal Ministry of Justice for allegedly conducting itself in a most unprofessional manner and in clear abuse of its prosecutorial powers with the charging of its governorship candidate, Adebutu and other supporters before the State High Court based on the incomplete and inchoate investigation report when they clearly lacked the power under Section 145(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 to prosecute elctoral offence.

When contacted for a reaction on the allegation, the Police Public Relation Officer for the Ogun State command, Omolola Odutola said, “This is a civil case, I honestly don’t know anything about it”.

The Spokesman of the APC in the state, Hon Tunde Oladunjoye however described the PDP allegation as nothing but laughable, tomfoolery, after thought and figment of imagination of the opposition party.

Speaking with our Correspondent, Hon Oladunjoye disclosed that rather than Hon Ladipupo Adebutu to come out from his hiding place and answer the charges against him, he was making baseless allegations.