The Dagburewe-in-Council of Idowa, Ogun State, has denied allegations that the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Sikiru Kayode Okuribido, stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign train from entering the community after the party allegedly paid N170,000 as a “protection fee.”

The council also denied claims that the monarch aided the alleged destruction of property during the PDP campaign activities in Idowa on September 16, 2026.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the Sobaloju of Idowa, Chief Yusuf Olatunji Olusanya, said the monarch neither instructed anyone to stop the PDP campaign train nor participated in any alleged act of violence or destruction.

The briefing was attended by members of the Oloritun-in-Council of Idowa, religious leaders and security operatives.

Olusanya urged the police and other relevant security agencies to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident, using eyewitness accounts, police records, bank transactions, photographs, videos and other available evidence.

The controversy followed the PDP’s campaign activities in Odogbolu Local Government Area, where the party alleged that it had obtained approval to use a venue in Idowa but was prevented from holding its campaign there shortly before the scheduled event.

Olusanya, however, insisted that Oba Okuribido neither stalled the rally nor frustrated the campaign.

He said there was no formal notification letter, to the knowledge of the council, sent to either the community or the palace informing them of the proposed campaign visit.

“Oba Okuribido did not stall the rally, frustrate the campaign, nor aid the destruction of anybody’s property,” he said, challenging anyone making such allegations to produce verifiable evidence.

The council also described allegations of gunshots, looting and destruction of vehicles as serious issues that should be investigated rather than treated as political exchanges.

Olusanya urged the police to establish whether the PDP campaign train entered Idowa on September 16 and, if so, determine its approved itinerary and security arrangements.

He further called for an investigation into the alleged shooting of the son of one Sakiru Bello, popularly known as Omoh, asking authorities to establish whether the incident occurred, when and where it happened, and who was responsible.

The council also raised questions over claims that Bello was arrested for allegedly pasting PDP posters and that N50,000 was paid for his release, urging the police and other authorities to verify the claims through official records and banking evidence.

On the disputed N170,000 venue payment, Olusanya said the agreed fee was N30,000, but N170,000 was subsequently paid into community coffers.

He alleged that N140,000 was later approved for refund through a signed cheque bearing the name of Oyinlola Odufuwa, whom the council said had requested the refund, but that the cheque was not collected because Odufuwa claimed to have travelled to Abuja.

The council said the circumstances surrounding the payment and proposed refund should be established through documentary evidence.

The PDP had earlier maintained that it paid N170,000 into a community account after securing approval to use the venue, but alleged that it was prevented from using the facility only hours before the scheduled campaign.

Olusanya appealed to political actors and residents not to drag the traditional institution into partisan politics, stressing that the monarch’s traditional position transcends party affiliation.

“If anyone alleges that His Royal Highness stalled a political rally or aided the destruction of property, the proper thing is to present the evidence to the appropriate authorities,” he said.

The council said anyone found to have committed an offence should face the law irrespective of political affiliation, adding: “We are not asking for favour. We are not asking for protection for anybody. We are asking for the truth.”

It therefore called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation, urging security agencies to rely on eyewitness accounts, police and bank records, photographs, videos and other available evidence to establish what transpired.