Ogun PDP condemns the arrest of its chairman, Abayomi Tella, calling it politically motivated and linked to electoral violence in the by-election
Ogun PDP chairman arrest has sparked outrage within the opposition party, which described it as a deliberate attempt to weaken its structure and hand electoral advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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In a statement signed by Otunba Ach Kayode Adebayo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decried the detention of Abayomi Tella, who was reportedly picked up in his hotel room in the early hours of Saturday.
The PDP alleged that the arrest was part of a wider plot to cripple the opposition during the Federal Constituency By-election in Sagamu, Remo North, and Ikenne.
The party further condemned widespread violence across the affected areas, citing gunfire, voter intimidation, and harassment of electoral officers.
It accused security agencies of bias, claiming the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) targeted opposition figures while ignoring those behind the disruptions.
“This disgraceful display of thuggery is a direct assault on democracy,” the PDP said. “The arrest of our Chairman is appalling—a deliberate move to cripple the PDP and hand the election to the APC.”
The statement also held Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration responsible for what it called a failure to protect citizens and ensure credible elections.
“The people of Sagamu, Remo North, and Ikenne witnessed the violence firsthand. They know who they voted for. This is not democracy—it is tyranny,” the party added.
The PDP demanded the immediate release of its chairman and other detained members, alongside a thorough probe into the roles of security operatives in the violence.
It urged civil society groups, democratic institutions, and the international community to closely monitor the situation in Ogun State.
Also read: Ogun PDP Secretariat: Matters Arising
“We remain committed to defending the people’s mandate and ensuring justice prevails. The intimidation must end. The perpetrators must be held accountable,” the statement concluded.
