‘We won’t be cowed by antics to subvert justice’ — PDP condemns attack on members in Ogun

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the attack on Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain, and some of its members in Ogun state.

TheCable had reported that Sowunmi, a former governorship aspirant of the party, and some supporters of the PDP were attacked on Monday by suspected thugs at the state’s election petition tribunal premises in the Isabo area of Abeokuta.

In a statement by Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s publicity secretary, the party alleged that the thugs were mobilised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disrupt the proceedings of the tribunal and instil fear.

“The PDP is aware that the attack by the APC is aimed at instilling fear, disrupting the proceedings of the tribunal, creating a siege mentality on the people and the judiciary so as to truncate the delivery of justice in the petition filed by the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, against the manifest rigging of the Ogun state governorship election in favour of APC candidate, governor Dapo Abiodun,” the statement reads.

“Information available to the PDP indicates that the hoodlums were mobilized by APC leaders who are in mortal fear that the APC’s manipulations and rigging in the Ogun state governorship election will be exposed at the tribunal.

“The attack by the APC is a direct assault on the institution of the judiciary, the election tribunal and a serious threat to the sustenance of Democracy in our country.

“Our party is distressed that the attack by the APC on our leaders and members, journalists and other innocent Nigerians reportedly occurred in the full glare of police operatives and other security agents, who were said to have made no attempt to arrest or stop the APC hoodlums from unleashing violence at the tribunal.

“Such scenario is indicting on Nigeria’s security authorities which requires urgent attention.”

The party called on the inspector-general of police and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) to direct an immediate investigation into the security lapses that might have paved the way for “such unchecked attack on the institution of the judiciary and other innocent Nigerians”.

The party demanded that those behind the attack be brought to book immediately.

Ologunagba added that the people of the state and the PDP would not be deterred or cowed by the APC to give up “the legitimate and constitutional pursuit for the recovery of the mandate freely given to our party and governorship candidate”.

He asked members and supporters to remain calm but alert and ready to use every means within the law to resist the APC in its plots to “disrupt the tribunal and subvert the course of justice”.