Source: Africa Publicity
Police in Nigeria’s Osun State have arrested a serving member of the state House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim, over allegations that he brought hundreds of people into the state to participate in Saturday’s governorship election.
Ibrahim, who represents the Irewole/Isokan constituency on the platform of the Accord Party, was reportedly apprehended on Friday night at his residence in Ikire. The arrest was carried out alongside a large group of individuals suspected to have been mobilised for electoral purposes.
According to reports, security operatives recovered more than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the operation.
A video circulating on social media appeared to show the lawmaker identifying himself and making an initial statement in which he allegedly acknowledged facilitating the movement of about 146 people from neighbouring states into Osun ahead of the election.
The arrest comes as security agencies intensify efforts to safeguard the integrity of the governorship poll and prevent any activities capable of disrupting the electoral process.
Speaking to journalists, Osun Police Command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said the police had earlier responded to a complaint from the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, who alleged that armed men had surrounded his residence.
Ojelabi explained that officers were immediately deployed following the report but were unable to verify the claim.
“We had gotten a complaint and immediately, the complaint unit of the Nigeria Police Force swung into action,” he said.
“We contacted the DPO of that area and directed him to proceed to the residence of the Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly following the alarm he raised that armed men had besieged his house.
“But we could not confirm that allegation.”
The police spokesperson added that officers subsequently arrested a group of individuals at the residence of what he described as a “political stakeholder”, as investigations into the matter continue.
