Osun Election Tension Rises as Police Arrest SSG, Five Others; Adeleke Camp Alleges Political Witch-hunt

Political tension escalated in Osun State on Wednesday ahead of the governorship election after the Nigeria Police Force arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaiye, along with five other individuals during an operation in Osogbo.

While the police insisted the arrests followed credible intelligence linking the suspects to alleged electoral offences and other criminal activities, the Osun State Government and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign organisation accused the security agency of orchestrating a politically motivated crackdown on opposition figures.

According to the police, operatives raided Igbalaiye’s residence where they allegedly recovered ₦4.81 million in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer.

The command further stated that one of those apprehended at the residence, Oladele Abiodun, had been on its watchlist in connection with other criminal investigations.

Others arrested alongside the SSG were identified as Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was carried out after intelligence reports indicated that suspected criminal elements were operating from the location.

“During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising a cash sum of four million eight hundred ten thousand, five hundred naira (N4,810,500), one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two Permanent Voter’s Cards and a voter register for wards 1-15.

“These exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.

The recovery of the cash and the register containing voters’ details raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities.

“While investigations are still ongoing, the facts presently available disclose reasonable grounds to investigate the commission of offences which may include: bribery of voters (vote buying) contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, arising from the alleged distribution of money or other inducements to registered voters for the purpose of influencing their voting decisions.

“Criminal Conspiracy is where two or more persons are found to have agreed to commit an unlawful act.

“Harbouring or concealing a wanted criminal, where any individual is found to have knowingly sheltered or assisted a fugitive from justice. Any other offences that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation,” the statement read.

The police added that the allegations had significant implications for public safety and the integrity of the electoral process.

“Accordingly, investigations are being intensified to identify all persons connected with the recovered exhibits, establish the source and intended use of the recovered funds, and determine the full extent of any criminal enterprise,” the statement read.

The command stressed that no individual, regardless of status or political affiliation, would be shielded from prosecution if found culpable after investigations.

Osun Government condemns operation

The Osun State Government, however, strongly condemned the arrests, accusing the police of carrying out illegal raids on the homes of senior government officials without obtaining search warrants.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that armed police officers invaded the SSG’s residence while political ward officials were holding a meeting.

Alimi claimed members of the SSG’s family were also arrested during the operation.

“The Osun State Government has raised alarm over systematic invasion, attacks and busting of homes of top Osun State government officials by the state police command without a proper search warrant, with the latest being the invasion of the house of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

“The SSG’s residence was busted by a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations, with family members of the SSG taken to unknown destinations.

“The Gestapo operations on the SSG residence followed a similar raid and arrest at the residences of about six commissioners and other top functionaries of the government.

“As of the time the SSG’s house was invaded, his ward officials were holding a meeting within the compound while the SSG himself was attending the stakeholders’ forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Alimi said.

The commissioner further alleged that security operatives had earlier raided the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire, damaging property during the operation.

He added that several other commissioners had reported surveillance and attempted raids on their residences despite no evidence of criminal activity.

“Following several raids and arrests, reports at the disposal of the government indicated that several Accord members are languishing in CID cells at the state command without being granted bail.

“These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun State.

“This campaign of repression constitutes grave danger to democracy. It is a reprehensible unprofessional conduct by the police in support of the state All Progressives Congress,” Alimi said.

He further accused the police command of acting in a partisan manner.

“By openly launching attacks on Osun government officials, the state police command has again confirmed its partiality and partisanship. It is becoming a direct tool in the hands of Osun APC.

“This is a law enforcement agency becoming lawless and acting against the spirit and letter of the constitution.

“These grave violations of the constitution and basic rights of the government and people of Osun State come as the national chairman of INEC is meeting stakeholders. The police have become a major threat to the conduct of a free and fair election in Osun State.

“We again call the attention of our traditional rulers, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to this escalation of targeted violence against top government officials and Accord members in Osun State.

“This must be stopped before it escalates into a general breakdown of law and order.”

Adeleke campaign demands release of supporters

The Adeleke Campaign Organisation also criticised the arrests, demanding the immediate release of supporters allegedly detained by security operatives.

Speaking after visiting the Force Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Abuja, campaign spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi alleged that dozens of party members had been arrested across Osun State without lawful justification.

“We have just come out of the IRT office. In the last two to three days, over 86 people, members of our party, have been arrested for no reason. These people were brought by road to Abuja and detained here unnecessarily.

“We have met with the leadership of the police, and they cannot provide any explanation to us. There is no petition against them. These people have committed no offence.”

He further alleged that several detainees had already been transferred to correctional centres despite not being charged in court.

“Today, having visited our people in detention, we discovered that 36 have been taken to Keffi, 14 have been taken to Kuje, for no reason, for no single offence committed. This must not continue,” he said.

Olajengbesi accused the Osun State Commissioner of Police of compromising the electoral process.

“There is a need for us to have a free, credible election. The Commissioner of Police in Osun State is completely compromised. If he is allowed to conduct the election, the election is already compromised,” he alleged.

He urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene.

“We want the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that there is a free and fair election in Osun State.

“The police should do their job. People must be allowed to exercise their franchise and vote for the candidate of their choice,” he said.

Olajengbesi also claimed that the Secretary to the State Government was arrested while engaging in voter sensitisation activities and insisted that several party leaders had similarly been picked up without justification.

Police reject allegations

The Osun State Police Command dismissed the allegations made by the Adeleke campaign, insisting that only six adults were arrested during the operation.

“Just six persons were arrested. All adults. The youngest among them should be 40 years. Six persons were arrested, not 56,” police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said.

He also denied claims that police officers carried out coordinated raids on the residences of commissioners.

“The police did not invade the house of commissioners. They only went based on information. They arrested these people in the house of the SSG,” he added.

Responding to demands for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Ojelabi maintained that such a decision rested solely with the Inspector-General of Police.

“The CP himself has responded to that. He said it is their choice. He’s not the one to remove himself. He was posted there by the Inspector-General of Police,” he said.