Political thugs attacked the Ogun state Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, for about an hour, on Tuesday, September 29.

The thugs, who were armed with canes and other weapons, flogged chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party and other members, who had gathered at the court’s premises.

The governorship candidate of the PDP, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, is challenging the election victory of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the All Progressives Congress.

The ugly scenario, which degenerated into a market-fight, began after chairman of the tribunal, Justice Henry Olusiyi, reserved judgment in the case.

Lawyers on both sides, party members and journalists were forced to stay-put in the courtroom, after the court premises was turned into a war-zone by the thugs.

The security operatives were said to have been initially powerless to address the situation, until they called for a reinforcement.

But before reinforcement could come, the thugs had flogged many supporters of the PDP as well as a former Chairman of Yewa North Local Government, Olusoji Eweje, Sesan Orelaja, and a former women leader of the Labour Party, Mrs. Omolola Soyombo.

The state PDP chairman, Bayo Dayo, and the National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Wole Adeyanju, managed to escape being attacked by the thugs.

Eventually, operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bello Makwashi, arrived to rescue the situation.