The Department of State Services ,DSS, has released the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, after spending a night in the custody of the service.
Adebutu, a former federal lawmaker was picked up on Monday by DSS operatives shortly after he addressed newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital, alleging harassment of PDP members and supporters during the just concluded local government elections.
The Ogun State politician who was accused of causing disturbances during the said local government elections conducted on November 16, 2024 was freed on Tuesday following the intervention of notable political associates.
Adebutu who confirmed his release in a statement said his arrest and detention was meant to silence him, stressing that the allegations against him were baseless.
“At about 7 am, Tuesday, 19th November 2024, I was released by the Department of State Services in Abeokuta following an invitation to answer to various spurious accusations all arising from the November 16 local government election in Ogun State.
“Very sadly, the allegations were so baseless that it became clear that their purpose was to silence me as a voice of the opposition. My contention that those elections were not free and fair is my fundamental right to free speech and free thought.
“My thinking that the local government should have financial autonomy that can only be enforced by free and fair elections is germane to our development. Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, shares the same view as mine which shows it is not a partisan position but a nationalistic one.
“However, because of the particular situation of Ogun State over the last five years which I shall publish shortly, desperation has set in to emasculate the third tier of government completely, this is the struggle for our development.”
