…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media. Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has responded to the allegations of vote-buying made against him by the Federal Government.
The Attorney-General of the Federation filed a lawsuit against Adebutu and nine others, accusing them of money laundering and vote-buying during the 2023 elections.
In a statement issued by Afolabi Orekoya, the Media Director of Adebutu’s campaign organization, Adebutu stated that he had not been contacted by the police or received any court documents regarding the lawsuit.
He regarded the lawsuit as an abuse of the court process and a ploy by the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to divert attention from the work of the Tribunal.
Adebutu refuted the report that he had traveled abroad to avoid arrest by the police, explaining that his trip on April 25 was for a routine medical check-up after the election.
According to the statement, Adebutu emphasized that he had not been formally served with any court document related to the charges, except for what he considered a media trial to mislead the public and the Tribunal.
He accused the APC and Abiodun of attempting to distract people and the judiciary from properly addressing the merits of the ongoing petition.
Adebutu urged them to allow the Tribunal to carry out its duties and pledged that the truth about vote buying would be revealed.
Adebutu further accused the Police Force of covering up an investigation into allegations of vote-buying and electoral violence committed by Abiodun and the APC during the governorship election on March 18.
He alleged that Abiodun and the APC had used three billion naira from state funds to bribe voters and employ thugs to disrupt elections in various parts of the state.
Adebutu also claimed that Abiodun and the APC were using the police to obstruct justice by intimidating and harassing him.
The statement highlighted that Adebutu had submitted a petition to the Nigerian Police six weeks earlier, but no investigation had been initiated against Abiodun and the APC regarding the alleged vote buying.
Adebutu argued that evidence of Abiodun’s inducements with taxpayers’ money was widely reported in the media, suggesting that this was why the investigations were being concealed.
He called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure a thorough investigation into Abiodun’s alleged use of three billion naira in taxpayers’ funds to buy votes in Ogun State, with the assistance of One Card Limited.
In summary, Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate for the governorship in Ogun State, has rejected the allegations of vote-buying leveled against him.
He criticized the lawsuit as an abuse of the court process and accused the APC and Abiodun of attempting to distract the Tribunal.
Adebutu also accused the police of covering up an investigation into allegations of vote-buying and electoral violence against Abiodun and the APC.
He called on the IGP to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter and urged for transparency and justice.
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