Ogun: PDP gives 72-hour ultimatum to police over vote-buying allegation, APC kicks

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State has asked the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu to release a report on vote-buying allegation against Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress, APC within 72-hours.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State on Monday, the State Chairman, Sikirulahi Ogundele, issued the ultimatum, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Abiodun the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election against the will of the people.

The PDP governorship candidate in the state, Ladi Adebutu, who had dragged Abiodun to tribunal also petitioned the Inspector General of Police, accusing Abiodun of vote buying and unleashing violence during the poll.

The PDP chairman said the party’s petition was submitted during the administration of the immediate-past IGP, Alkali Baba but had not been concluded as of the time he was sacked.

Ogundele expressed worry that the investigation should have been concluded.

He said, “The PDP was aware that Governor Abiodun and his party, APC were putting unbearable pressure and as well threatening the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, and his officers to allegedly suppress the release and distort the findings of the investigation ordered by the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali based on the opposition party’s petition dated May 2, 2023.

“Few weeks after, he approached the court and filed a motion stopping Police from ‘inviting’, ‘interviewing’ or ‘detaining’ him over allegations of votes-buying through the printing and distribution of 200,000 pieces of Verve ATM cards preloaded with N10,000 credit and totaling N2 billion. He also wanted the court to ask the Police to defer the trial till after the conclusion of his petition at the Tribunal in Abeokuta.

“In the process of serial lies and contradictions, Adebutu has even lied under oath, committed perjury and he certainly has a date to keep with the law. For someone who kept boasting that his father’s money can do anything, the recent meaningless press conference is perhaps an indication that money has failed him in buying the law.

“The party advised the Ogun state PDP and its defeated governorship candidate to stop wasting their time on a lost battle but rather concentrate their energies and resources on defending themselves of the weighty criminal charges hanging around their necks, and to which many of their conspirators have confessed to.”