Osun State Police Command has arrested a member of the State House of Assembly, representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, Mr. Abiola Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly camped at his residence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.
Mr.Inaolaji, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday during a police operation.
Confirming the arrest, the Spokesperson, Osun State Police Command, Mr. Abiodun Ojelabi said 200 Permanent Voter Cards PVCs were recovered from him, during the operation.
Similarly, 33 suspected electoral mercenaries comprising 30 males and three females were arrested by the operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU at an Hotel located behind the State High Court in Ede.
In another development, security operatives have sealed off the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Prince Adewale Egbedun.
Spokesman for the Imole campaign council Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi who disclosed to newsmen said the armed security personnel arrived at the premises of the speaker in more than 10 black Hilux vehicles and prevented persons living the premises from going out.
Olajengbesi who however, said the campaign council could not independently establish the reason for the deployment, noted that it remained unclear whether the operatives were deployed to provide security to the Speaker or were carrying out other official duties.
The legal practitioner called on the relevant security authorities to urgently explain the circumstances surrounding the deployment and the reported restriction of movement at the Speaker’s residence, particularly as Osun State is holding its governorship election today.
According to him, attempts to obtain clarification from the official contact line of the Commissioner of Police for the election, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the election and the Police Situation Room were unsuccessful, as the calls were reportedly not answered.
Olajengbesi further urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting an official explanation, stressing that election-day security arrangements should reassure citizens rather than create fear or intimidation.
However, attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Mr. Abiodun Ojelabi, for comments and explanations on the reported incident proved abortive.