Police arrest Osun SSG, five others over alleged vote merchandising ahead of governorship poll

The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, along with five other persons over alleged involvement in vote merchandising ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

In a statement issued by the command, the police said the arrests followed a raid on the SSG’s residence at Oroki Estate in Osogbo on Wednesday, adding that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were recovered during the operation.

According to the command, officers also recovered a register containing voters’ details, raising concerns over possible electoral offences.

Other items allegedly recovered from the residence include ₦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 police identified the other suspects as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa,” who was described as a wanted murder suspect on the command’s watch list, alongside Taiwo Akande, Lukman Adeyemo, Muftau Olaoye and Musiliu Aderemi.

The command said investigations are ongoing into allegations of vote buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect, noting that the allegations have significant implications for the administration of justice and the credibility of the democratic process.

The police reiterated their commitment to enforcing the law without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and provide useful information that could help prevent crime and ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible governorship election.

However, Vanguard gathered that the SSG later reported himself at the police command after learning about the raid on his residence.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government condemned the police operation, describing the raid on the SSG’s residence as illegal.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government said ward officials were holding a meeting at the premises when the raid occurred, while the SSG was attending a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The government further alleged that the police had, a day earlier, raided the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire, ransacking the building and destroying several properties.

It called on traditional rulers, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu to intervene, alleging a pattern of targeted actions against top government officials and members of the Accord Party in Osun State.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council, in a statement by its spokesperson, Remi Omowaye, said the raid vindicated the party’s warnings about alleged plans by the ruling party to engage in vote buying and election manipulation.

“For months, the APC has consistently raised concerns over the activities of violent political elements operating in the state. We have repeatedly warned that Governor Ademola Adeleke and his co-travellers, having lost the confidence of the people, have resorted to intimidation, violence and other unlawful means in a bid to influence the forthcoming governorship election, even when the people of Osun have rejected them on account of their poor performance. This latest raid has vindicated our party.

“To this end, we commend the Nigeria Police Force for the professional operation and encourage the security agencies to sustain the momentum by conducting thorough investigations wherever credible intelligence points to the stockpiling of weapons or the harbouring of criminal elements. No individual should be above the law,” he added.