Ladi Adebutu, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for objecting to the conduct of the November 16 local government elections.

At a press conference on Monday, Adebutu said Saturday’s elections were not free and fair.

DAILY POST reported that shortly after the press conference, Adebutu was arrested and detained by the DSS.

Adebutu, who was released around 7am on Tuesday, told DAILY POST that the allegations against him were baseless and aimed at silencing him as the voice of the opposition.

He said: “I was released at about 7am on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, following an invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abeokuta to respond to various false charges, all arising from the November 16 Local Government elections in Ogun State.

“Unfortunately, the allegations were so baseless that it turned out that their aim was to silence me as the voice of the opposition. My claim that these elections are not free and fair is my fundamental right to freedom of expression and free thought.

“My view that Local Government should have financial autonomy that can only be exercised through free and fair elections is relevant to our development. Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR shares the same view as mine, which shows that this is not a partisan position but a nationalist one.

“However, due to the special situation of Ogun State in the last five years, which I will publish shortly, there has been a desperation towards the complete emasculation of the third tier government, which is our struggle for development,” he said.