APC, Security Agencies Must Stop Intimidation of PDP Leaders and Voters in Ogun State|Dr. Adedipe Dauda EwenlaPDP Southwest Ex-officio
The detention of Hon. Abayomi Tella, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, at the Eleweran Police Headquarters, is a grave assault on democracy, justice, and the fundamental rights of law-abiding citizens.
Hon. Tella, a respected party leader, was shamefully arrested at about 3 a.m. in his hotel room and has since been held unjustly under spurious allegations of vote buying. This incident occurred in the context of the just-concluded bye-election in Remo Federal Constituency, where thugs loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) unleashed violence, shooting sporadically and terrorizing innocent voters. Shockingly, these thugs operated unhindered and in some cases, with the tacit support of security agencies who should have protected lives and safeguarded the electoral process.
The use of intimidation, violence, and unlawful arrest of opposition figures by APC only confirms one truth: they know their candidate cannot win a free and fair election in Ogun State. Instead of allowing the democratic will of the people to prevail, the APC has chosen to rely on brute force, manipulation, and abuse of state power to subvert the process.
We strongly condemn the shameful collaboration between security agencies and the ruling APC in harassing opposition members. It is utterly unacceptable that an innocent man, who was in his private hotel room, is being treated like a criminal simply because he belongs to the PDP. This is a clear case of political persecution and an abuse of the instruments of state against innocent citizens.
We call on all well-meaning people of Ogun State, Nigerians at large, and indeed the international community to rise against this injustice. Democracy cannot thrive where opposition voices are silenced, voters are intimidated, and elections are militarized in favor of the ruling party.
The PDP candidate in the bye-election is a credible and popular choice of the people. The APC and its collaborators must stop their shameful desperation to hold onto power through fraudulent and undemocratic means.
We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Hon. Abayomi Tella and urge the security agencies to remember that their duty is to the Nigerian people, not to the selfish interests of any political party.
The world is watching, and history will not be kind to those who use violence and oppression to undermine democracy
