Suspected thugs have besieged the governorship tribunal sitting at the Magistrate Court in Abeokuta on Monday June 5, 2023.

According to eyewitness accounts, over 100 thugs were seen using sticks and other dangerous objects to allegedly scare opposition party members away from the courthouse.

The court’s heavy security presence, which began as early as 7 a.m., did not deter the thugs, who were seen having a free day and beating up perceived court opposition.

According to information obtained by The Public Republic, journalists were not spared because they were on the verge of being beaten up until a well-known party insider stepped in and told the thugs who they were.

The outcome of the March 18 governorship election, in which incumbent Dapo Abiodun was declared victorious but is now facing challenge from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ladi Adebutu, is anticipated to be one of the issues decided at the Ogun state governorship tribunal session.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abiodun received 276,298 votes, beating out his closest competitors Ladi Adebutu of the PDP, who received 262,383, and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who received 94,754 votes.

Following that, Adebutu petitioned the tribunal to order INEC to hold new elections in 99 polling units across 41 wards and 16 of the state’s 20 local government areas.

He also claimed that elections were either cancelled or postponed in some polling units due to disruption and over-voting.