The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 persons suspected of being electoral mercenaries during a security operation in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.
Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency and is a member of the Accord Party, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, as security agencies intensified operations to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility and peaceful conduct of the ongoing Osun governorship election.
The police reportedly recovered more than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the operation at the lawmaker’s residence. The development has raised fresh concerns over alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process through the movement of voters from outside the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest, saying it formed part of intensified security operations aimed at protecting the integrity of the election.
Ojelabi said the operation was conducted by the FBI Intelligence Response Team (IRT), according to reports from the scene, as part of efforts to prevent activities capable of compromising the credibility of the poll.
A video clip cited by several news organisations showed a man identified as Ibrahim identifying himself as the arrested lawmaker and allegedly stating that he facilitated the movement of the suspects from neighbouring states into Osun for the purpose of voting in the election.
According to reports citing preliminary police findings, the suspects were allegedly brought into Osun from neighbouring states, including Ondo and Ekiti, to participate in the election.
Some of the suspects reportedly told investigators that they had been recruited by a politician whose identity had not yet been established. They allegedly claimed that they were promised financial rewards in exchange for voting during the election.
The police are now investigating the alleged recruitment network, including the source of the PVCs, the movement of the suspects and the identities of other persons who may have participated in the alleged scheme.
Ojelabi said the investigation would be expanded to identify and apprehend other accomplices who may still be at large and establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged electoral activities.
The development came as Osun voters headed to polling units across the state on Saturday to elect a governor in a contest featuring Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and other major candidates.
The arrest has therefore added another dramatic security dimension to an election already attracting heightened attention, with security agencies under pressure to prevent vote buying, voter inducement, voter impersonation and other forms of electoral malpractice.
