By Ismail Azeez
The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly camped at his residence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.
Inaolaji, who represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday during a police operation. The command reportedly recovered no fewer than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the operation.
In a video clip obtained after the arrest, the lawmaker was seen making a preliminary statement in which he identified himself and allegedly stated that he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects into Osun State from neighbouring states to participate in the governorship election.
The allegation remains subject to further investigation by the police.
Confirming the arrest, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Inaolaji was arrested in the early hours of Saturday.
He added that the operation was carried out by the FBI IRT as part of intensified security measures to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility of the election.
In a separate operation at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court in Ede, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries comprising 30 males and three females.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were brought into Osun from Ondo State for alleged unlawful electoral activities, while four voters’ cards were recovered from them as exhibits.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that an unidentified politician recruited them and promised them financial rewards in exchange for voting, with further investigation expected to establish the identities and roles of those behind the alleged operation.