All Progressives Congress has no hand in alleged attack on Sowunmi, says government

The Ogun State Government has faulted claim of a former Governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Segun Sowunmi alleging that he was attacked by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) at the premises of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Penpushing reports that an alleged attack on Sowunmi have been trending on the social media, with accusing fingers being pointed at the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Sowunmi in an interview called for relocation of the tribunal with a claim that Abeokuta is no more safe for his party.

The Government in a swift reaction through a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Waheed Adesina said Sowunmi”s claim of attack by members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) was a blatant lie stressing that no such attack happened at the premises of the tribunal, which is been protected by a retinue of security personnel.

Penpushing further reports that the permanent secretary while explaining what happened said that some members of the public, who had attempted to gain entrance into the tribunal to observe its proceedings were prevented from doing so as the tribunal members ordered that the gate of the Magistrate Court be shut immediately sitting commenced.

The statement explained that a large number of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters, including other neutral observers who had arrived the venue late were affected, adding that Sowunmi later came and mounted pressure on the security agents at the gate to allow him access after identifying himself as a stakeholder.

Penpushing also reports that Adesina in the statement said the attempt to open the gate for Sowunmi angered the crowd outside, which resulted in a mild protest and resistance to the move as the people felt he should not enjoy any preferential treatment.

The Permanent Secretary said  the protest has no political colouration as it was spontaneous and carried out by all those outside the premises of the tribunal, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and  All Progressives Congress (APC) members and the general public, who felt that they are also important as well as stakeholders in the state.

Penpushing reports that the statement warned against the spread of fake and unsubstantiated stories that could plunge the state into political quagmire.