ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – The commencement of the Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was marred by violence on Monday, June 5, 2023, as political thugs attacked a former governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Segun Showunmi.
The inaugural tribunal sitting, which had tight security and was fraught with tension, was convened to hear the petition filed by PDP’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
A combined team of security operatives cordoned off the road leading to the venue, the Magistrates’ Court in Isabo.
Large numbers of political thugs, wielding sticks and canes, arrived at the court to support their respective political parties.
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A minor clash broke out between supporters of the APC and the PDP, leading to a tense scene at the tribunal.
Fully armed security operatives, including the police, the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Civil Defense, had to intervene to restore peace and disperse the unruly thugs.
These security officials also restricted political supporters from entering the court premises.
However, despite the presence of security agents, political thugs roamed the vicinity brandishing canes, with some causing disorder without being arrested.
Segun Showunmi found himself in the midst of these aggressive thugs upon his arrival at the court’s gate.
As he was introducing himself to the security personnel at the gate, the thugs attacked him with sticks.
Fortunately, Showunmi managed to escape unscathed. Some political party supporters weren’t as lucky and were injured in the ensuing violence.
Inside the court, Adebutu’s lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the Tribunal that a large number of the petitioner’s supporters were prevented from observing the session.
He argued that despite the prohibition of live transmission of the hearing, adequate provisions should have been made for the litigants to observe the session.
