Group of thugs loyal to the All Progressive congress (APC) on Monday invaded the governorship election petitions tribunal in Ogun during a hearing into the case against the result of the March 18 polls, the Peoples Democratic Party claimed. 

A PDP chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, alleged he and several of his supporters were attacked and wounded. According to him, the victims are receiving treatment in different hospitals. 

The alleged attack is believed to be aimed at preventing the tribunal from hearing and admitting evidence which could nullify Governor Dapo Abiodun’s second term win as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

Speaking to The Gazette, Mr Sowunmi accused the governor of promoting violence and proposed that the petition tribunal be relocated from the reach of Mr Abiodun. 

“Dapo Abiodun has turned Ogun state into a bloodbath. He cannot rig this election and claim that people should not present evidences of his malpractice,” stated Mr Sowunmi. 

The PDP chieftain added, “We are appealing to President Tinubu to relocate the tribunal out of Ogun state to where all parties can feel safe without intimidation.” 

The police command in Ogun did not respond to The Gazette’s request for comments on the matter. 

Kunle Somorin, Mr Abiodun’s chief press secretary during the governor’s first term, declined to comment. The Gazette could immediately get a response from Tunde Oladunjoye, the APC spokesman in Ogun. 

INEC controversially returned Mr Abiodun elected after he polled 276,298 votes against his top challenger, Ladi Adebutu’s 262,383 votes. 

Mr Abiodun’s win was questionable at the time of the announcement, having led his opponent by a margin less than the number of voters who could not cast their votes due to violence and other factors. 

A similar case was announced as inconclusive in Adamawa, and subsequently, INEC held a rerun.