JUST IN: Thugs Invade Tribunal, Beat Up Politicians, Journalists, Others

Some suspected thugs on Monday besieged the Ogun State Governorship Tribunal sitting at the Magistrate Court, Isabo in Abeokuta.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the thugs, numbering over 100 were seen with canes, and other harmful objects to allegedly scare opposition party members from accessing the court premises.

It was observed that the heavy security presence at the court as early as 7 am did not deter the thugs as they were seen having a free day beating up perceived opposition in the court.

Blueprint correspondent, in the company of other journalists, were not spared as they were almost beaten up but for the timely intervention of a known party stalwart who informed the thugs of their identities.

The Ogun state governorship tribunal is expected to determine among other things the winner of the March 18 governorship election, of which the incumbent Dapo Abiodun was declared the winner but is being challenged by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced that Abiodun polled 276,298 to defeat his closest rivals Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 262,383 as well as Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who got 94,754 votes and who has the backing of former governor and serving APC Senator, Ibikunle Amosun.

Thereafter, Adebutu of the PDP asked the tribunal to direct INEC to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units in 41 wards and 16 of the 20 local government areas of the state.

He also alleged that elections were either not held or cancelled in the polling units listed because of disruption of the exercise and over-voting.