Ogun By-election: ‘Thugs chased me away’, PDP candidate laments

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Remo Federal Constituency by-election, Bolarinwa Oluwole, has disclosed that Saturday’s by-election was marred by violence, intimidation, and gross irregularities.

Speaking after casting his vote at Ijagba ward 7, polling unit 9, Oluwole alleged that thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) unleashed terror on PDP supporters, forcing many voters to flee polling units.

He also claimed that one of his supporters was shot in Ilara, while others were beaten and harassed.

“It’s a pity for the governor and all his thugs. Because of a small boy like me, they have been running up and down beating our people. They have really bastardised this. This is not an election.

“Before I came here, you saw that there was no election. They were beating people here who voted for the PDP. APC thugs chased me away; they had to bring me to one corner,” he said.

He further accused the ruling APC of undermining democracy with violence and intimidation, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to speak the truth about what transpired during the exercise.

“If INEC doesn’t tell the truth, I leave everything in God’s hands. God Almighty will judge. The thugs were going about with guns. I want the media to tell the truth because after this, there are other days to live,” he said.

The PDP candidate insisted that the will of the people must not be subverted, warning that democracy in Ogun State was under threat if such acts went unpunished.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.

He said, “I have just exercised my franchise. I am quite impressed this morning that electoral materials arrived early. There is also an impressive turnout. Everybody is going about voting peacefully.

“In some places, maybe because of the weather, the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machine took some time to capture. So far, everything is so good. I want to thank INEC for being on top of their game as usual.

“Obviously, year in and year out, they are improving on the quality of their services. Basically, everything is going well, no rancour, no fighting.”