The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were targeted and physically assaulted on the court grounds in Isabo, Abeokuta, by hoodlums when the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal held its first hearing that day.
Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate for governor, is contesting at the tribunal the declaration of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress as the victor of the state’s March 18 governorship election.
The hoodlums invaded the tribunal’s grounds with canes, also known as pankere, in their hands and freely wielded them on the opposition members as the court’s sitting got underway.
While police officers and security personnel turned away, the thugs, who were not near the tribunal’s participants, were observed using canes to attack their political adversaries.
These criminals pummeled the victims before chasing them away. Segun Sowunmi, a previous PDP candidate for governor in the state, was one of those who was assaulted.
While attempting to enter the court grounds, the thugs attacked Showunmi and battered him.
Showunmi had to be rescued by security personnel, who put him in one of their trucks and escorted him away from the chaotic scene.
Reacting to the incident, Showunmi said it was regrettable that security operatives were helpless as PDP members were being attacked.
“It is so unfortunate the police looked on and felt unconcerned while the thugs were carrying out their act,” Showunmi said.
Though the road that leads to the court was barricaded at both ends by the police, this did not stop the hoodlums from attacking their targets.
The situation became a free-for-all as the political thugs roamed about the premises with canes in their hands while police made no attempt to arrest them or stop them from causing chaos.
A policeman, who did not want his name in print said, “There is nothing we can do; we can’t arrest them. Everything about Ogun is always different.”
A PDP member, who was one of those attacked by the thugs, said he lost his phone, money and other items in his possession while being beaten.