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The Osun police command has arrested Abiola Ibrahim, a member of the state’s house of assembly, over the alleged import of at least 300 people to vote in Saturday’s governorship election.
Ibrahim, a member of Accord party, who represents the Irewole/Isokan constituency in the assembly, was arrested on Friday night alongside the horde of suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly found at his residence in Ikire.
The operation reportedly led to the recovery of more than 200 permanent voter cards (PVCs).
In a video shared by PUNCH on X, the lawmaker was seen making a preliminary statement in which he identified himself and allegedly admitted to facilitating the movement of about 146 people from neighbouring states into Osun to participate in the governorship election.
The arrest comes amid intensified security operations across the state ahead of the poll, with authorities seeking to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
Abiodun Ojelabi, police spokesperson in Osun, told journalists that the command had earlier received a complaint from the speaker of the state house of assembly that armed men had besieged his residence.
Ojelabi said police operatives were dispatched to the area but could not confirm the allegation.
“We had gotten a complaint and immediately, the complaint unit of the Nigeria Police Force swung into action,” he said.
“We contacted the DPO of that area and directed him to proceed to the residence of the speaker of the Osun house of assembly, following the alarm he raised that armed men had besieged his house.
“But we could not confirm that allegation.”
The police spokesperson said operatives arrested a group of people at the residence of a “political stakeholder”.
Ojelabi said the state remains peaceful and urged residents to come out and exercise their franchise.
“However, we also made an arrest at a stakeholder’s residence, where we located 300 unaccounted individuals. Presently, we are profiling them,” he said.
“Osun remains very calm and we urge residents to come out en masse to vote.”
Osun votes to elect a governor today in a closely contested race involving incumbent and Accord member Ademola Adeleke; and Bola Oyebamiji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The election is being held across the state’s 30 local government areas, with 15 candidates vying for the governorship seat.
