Osun Election: Police nab Accord lawmaker with 143 suspected vote mercenaries over 200 PVCs

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, along with 143 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly camped at his residence in Ikire.

Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested during a police operation on Friday night.

The operation reportedly led to the recovery of more than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the residence.

In a video clip released after the operation, the lawmaker identified himself and allegedly stated that he facilitated the movement of the suspects from neighbouring states into Osun State ahead of the governorship election.

The suspects were reportedly brought into the state for the purpose of participating in the election.

The arrest is part of intensified security operations by the police ahead of the election, as the command moves to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were brought into Osun State from Ondo State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.

The suspects reportedly told investigators that they were recruited by a yet-to-be-identified politician, who allegedly facilitated the procurement of voters’ cards for them and instructed them to vote in exchange for financial rewards.

The command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi while confirming the incident, said investigations had commenced to identify and apprehend other accomplices still at large and to unravel the full extent of the alleged network involved in the recruitment of electoral mercenaries, voter inducement and other related offences.

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