Former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State Ladi Adebutu has confirmed his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The politician was detained on Monday when he honoured an invitation by the DSS for questions over alleged disturbances during the local government elections held on November 16, 2024, in which the All Progressives Congress won all seats.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adebutu confirmed his release to, saying the allegations were baseless.
“At about 7am, Tuesday, 19th November 2024, I was released by the Department of State Services in Abeokuta following an invitation to answer to various spurious accusations all arising from the November 16 local government election in Ogun State.
“Very sadly, the allegations were so baseless that it became clear that their purpose was to silence me as a voice of the opposition. My contention that those elections were not free and fair is my fundamental right to free speech and free thought.
“My thinking that the local government should have financial autonomy that can only be enforced by free and fair elections is germane to our development. Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, shares the same view as mine which shows it is not a partisan position but a nationalistic one.
“However, because of the particular situation of Ogun State over the last five years which I shall publish shortly, desperation has set in to emasculate the third tier of government completely, this is the struggle for our development,” Adebutu said.
