[UPDATED] Osun Election: Police Arrest Lawmaker with 200 PVCs, 146 Suspected Electoral Mercenaries

[UPDATED] Osun Election: Police Arrest Lawmaker with 200 PVCs, 146 Suspected Electoral Mercenaries

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Honourable 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 that the lawmaker was arrested in Ikire with about 146 suspected mercenaries in the early hours of Saturday, and the suspects were allegedly found camped at the lawmaker’s father’s residence, with preliminary investigations indicating they were brought into Osun State from Ondo State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.

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In a separate operation at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court in Ede, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries comprising 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, while 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, and the police said further investigation is ongoing to establish the identities and roles of those behind the alleged operation.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, free, fair and credible electoral process in Osun State, warning individuals and groups planning to engage in activities capable of undermining the election to desist, stressing that the police would deal decisively with electoral offences in accordance with the law. The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security had earlier disclosed that no fewer than 15,000 personnel had been deployed for the conduct of the poll, with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing the operation.

The arrests come as voting commenced across the 30 local government areas of the state amid heightened security. The election is being conducted under tight security following pre-election concerns over possible violence and intimidation, and stakeholders have continued to call on voters and political actors to maintain peace throughout voting and collation. Meanwhile, the APC deputy 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, urging eligible voters to come out and participate, saying the future of the state depended on active citizen participation, and appealing to political parties and supporters to remain peaceful and allow voters to freely choose the next governor.

[UPDATED] Osun Election: Police Arrest Lawmaker with 200 PVCs, 146 Suspected Electoral Mercenaries