Why I Was Arrested by DSS – Ladi Adebutu

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has disclosed that his recent arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) was linked to his criticism of the November 16 local government elections. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Adebutu alleged that the polls were marred by irregularities and failed to meet the standards of a free and fair election.

Following the press briefing, Adebutu was detained by the DSS and released on Tuesday at 7 a.m. Describing the charges against him as unfounded, Adebutu said they were politically motivated. “The allegations were so baseless that it became clear their purpose was to silence me as a voice of the opposition,” he stated.

The former governorship candidate defended his right to critique the electoral process, emphasizing that his position on local government financial autonomy was both constitutional and necessary for national development. “My contention that those elections were not free and fair is my fundamental right to free speech and free thought,” Adebutu said. He added that his call for reforms aligns with views expressed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, making it a national rather than partisan issue.

Adebutu further criticized what he described as a growing desperation to undermine the autonomy of local governments in Ogun State, claiming it threatens development at the grassroots level. He pledged to release more details about what he sees as systemic issues in the state’s governance over the past five years.