Four leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti for alleged vandalism, conspiracy, theft, and illegal invasion of the state party Secretariat in Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti, a property said to be owned by one Adebutu Kensington.
Those arraigned include the current state PDP Chairman and former Speaker/Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi; former state PDP Chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe; State Secretary, Mr. Kole Abiodun; and Mr. Gani Salau, Personal Media Aide to governorship aspirant, Dr. Wole Oluyede.
According to the PDP delegation, a petition, allegedly written by Barrister Falade and Ariyo Afolabi, claimed that the Ajilosun property belongs to Hon. Ladi Adebutu, a former federal lawmaker and PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State during the 2023 general election.
However, Mr Odeyemi and Mr Ogundipe had reportedly provided explanations to the police detailing how the PDP purchased and developed the land, pledging to present supporting documents when required.
The PDP leaders said they were presented with bail conditions which they described as stringent, including a requirement that Level 16 civil servant in the Ekiti State Civil Service should stand as surety for each of the three principal officers.
Reacting to the incident, the PDP’s counsel in Ekiti State, Mr Owoseeni Ajayi, condemned the arrests, describing the matter as a civil dispute over property ownership rather than a criminal issue.
Mr Ajayi maintained that the party secretariat belongs to the PDP and argued that no legitimate complainant had come forward to establish contrary ownership.
Mr Ajayi also confirmed that the bail issues were being addressed and expressed confidence that the court process would ultimately clarify ownership of the disputed secretariat.
