The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the state House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly camped at his residence in Ikire.
Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested Friday night during a police operation. More than 200 Permanent Voter Cards were reportedly recovered from the premises.
A video released in connection with the arrest showed the lawmaker identifying himself and allegedly stating that he facilitated the movement of the suspects from neighbouring states into Osun for the purpose of participating in the governorship election.
The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were brought into the state from Ondo State to engage in alleged illegal electoral activities.
According to the command, some of the suspects told investigators that an unidentified politician recruited them, allegedly provided them with voters’ cards and promised them financial rewards to vote in the election.
The police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest and said investigations had commenced to identify and arrest other accomplices who were still at large.
He added that the investigation would also determine the extent of the alleged network involved in the recruitment of electoral mercenaries, voter inducement and other electoral offences.
