Police arrest Osun lawmaker with 200 PVCS, 146 suspects

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries in the early hours of Saturday in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, as part of security operations ahead of the governorship election.

The lawmaker, who represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested at his residence during a joint operation. Confirming the arrest, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was carried out by the FBI-IRT as part of intensified measures to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility of the poll.

According to the police, no fewer than 200 Permanent Voter Cards were recovered from the residence during the raid.

In a video clip obtained after the arrest, Inaolaji was seen identifying himself and allegedly stating that he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects into Osun State from neighbouring states to participate in the governorship election.

The police said the allegation remains subject to further investigation.

Ojelabi told journalists: “He was arrested in Ikire with about 146 suspected mercenaries in the early hours of Saturday.”

In a separate operation, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court in Ede. The suspects comprised 30 males and three females.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were brought into Osun from Ondo State for alleged unlawful electoral activities. Four voters’ cards were recovered from them as exhibits.

The suspects reportedly told investigators that an unidentified politician recruited them and promised financial rewards in exchange for voting. The police said further investigation is ongoing to establish the identities and roles of those behind the alleged operation.

The arrests come as voting commenced across the 30 local government areas of the state amid heightened security.

Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, who voted at Ward 11, Unit 3, Ilare in Ife Central, described the voter turnout as impressive and commended the security arrangements and the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.

“The turnout is impressive and the security is perfect. The BVAS is working well, and everyone is happy here,” Adereti said.

He urged eligible voters to come out and participate, saying the future of the state depended on active citizen participation. He also appealed to political parties and supporters to remain peaceful and allow voters to freely choose the next governor.

Also being awaited at the polls is the ADC governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, who is expected at Ward 4, Unit 13 as voting continues.

The election is being conducted under tight security following pre-election concerns over possible violence and intimidation. Stakeholders have continued to call on voters and political actors to maintain peace throughout voting and collation