PDP officials, INEC Staff arrested in Ogun over alleged vote buying

Security operatives in Ogun State have arrested some officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and two staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area, over alleged involvement in vote buying during the ongoing by-election.

In a viral video circulating on social media, the arrested officials were seen squatting on the floor while being interrogated by a security operative. According to the interrogator, intelligence reports revealed that the INEC staff, a male and a female, had been given a large sum of money by PDP members to influence the election.

The male INEC staff reportedly confessed that he was instructed by his supervisor to collect the money from the politicians.

However, one of the PDP officials, who identified himself as a party officer in Ogun, denied knowledge of the cash, insisting, “You are just showing money; I don’t know anything about it.”

Reacting to the development, the PDP described the arrest as a plot to intimidate its members and suppress opposition votes.

The party’s Director of Media and Communications, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, said the arrest of one of its state officers around 3:30am was carried out in a “commando-style operation.”

He stressed that contrary to reports, no electoral materials or huge sums of money were found in the officer’s possession, noting that only ₦100,000 was in his room.

Bankole further claimed the incident was part of a plan to disenfranchise the party, saying the arrested member had no connection with the INEC staff.

“It is practically impossible for him to lodge in the same hotel room with an INEC official.

He was only carrying out his duty as a state officer during this election,” he stated.

The PDP called for his immediate release and warned against attempts to silence opposition voices.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the arrests but said investigations were still ongoing.

“We are investigating the matter. That’s how much I can say for now. You may please call back later in the day for further information,” he said.