Political thugs welding sticks, yesterday, flogged a former governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, other party supporters, as the Election Petition Tribunal began its sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The tribunal, amid tension and watertight security, commenced hearing of the petition filed by PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, against Dapo Abiodun of APC.
The road leading to the venue within magistrates’ court premises at Isabo, was cordoned off by a combined team of security operatives.
Some of the thugs were seen holding canes as a minor clash broke out between supporters of APC and PDP.
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It took the intervention of fully armed security operatives, comprising the police, DSS and Civil Defence who dispersed the thugs before peace could be restored.
Witnesses said the incident happened when Showunmi arrived at the court’s gate when the thugs were on ground.
They pounced on Showunmi with sticks before he escaped.
Addressing newsmen after the incident, Showunmi said he escaped with the scars.
He called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to relocate the petition tribunal to Abuja over alleged security threat.
Reacting, the Ogun State government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Waheed Adesina, denied the allegation that political thugs attacked the PDP chieftain.
