The Osun State Police Command arrested Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye and five others during a raid on his Osogbo residence on Wednesday for alleged vote merchandising ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Officers recovered Permanent Voter Cards, a voters’ register, ₦4.8 million in cash, a Dynabook laptop, photocopying machines, a printer and voter registers covering Wards one to fifteen in Osogbo Local Government Area. The other suspects include Abiodun Arowomole, known as “Ashipa” and described as a wanted murder suspect, along with Taiwo Akande, Lukman Adeyemo, Muftau Olaoye and Musiliu Aderemi. Investigations continue into allegations of vote buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.
The Osun State Government condemned the raid as illegal. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi stated that ward officials were holding a meeting at the residence while the SSG attended an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ forum. The government also alleged a prior raid on the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire and called for intervention by traditional rulers, the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu.
The All Progressives Congress campaign council welcomed the operation. Spokesperson Remi Omowaye said it confirmed earlier warnings about efforts by Governor Ademola Adeleke and his associates to influence the election through unlawful means.
