The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five other persons for allegedly being in possession of voter cards suspected to have been bought ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement, the Police said the arrests followed a raid on the SSG’s residence at the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo on Wednesday.
According to the Command, officers 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 also identified the other suspects arrested at the residence 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. It added that the allegations have significant implications for the administration of justice and the credibility of the democratic process.
The Police reiterated its 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.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government had condemned the police operation, describing the raid on the SSG’s residence as illegal.
In a statement, the government said ward officials were holding a meeting within the premises at the time of the raid, 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.
