Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, has been arrested by the Police for alleged unlawful possession of electoral materials.

He was arrested alongside five others for allegedly buying votes in his residence.

The state government had claimed that the police unlawfully invaded the SSG’s residence during a political meeting and abducted his family.

According to the government, ward officials were holding political meeting when the Police stormed the SSG’s residence.

Explaining the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was a targeted lawful action based on credible intelligence regarding a criminal gang hibernating in the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.

The Police stated that operatives tracked a wanted suspect, Abiodun Arowomole (popularly known as “Ashipa”), who had been on the command’s watch list for serious crimes, including murder, to a residential property linked to the SSG.

The suspects arrested alongside the SSG were identified as  Akande Taiwo (60), Oladele Abiodun (38), Adeyemo Lukman (45), Olaoye Muftau (50), and Aderemi Musliu (40).

During the operation, authorities reportedly recovered substantial exhibits, including the sum of N4,810,500 in cash, one Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two voter cards, and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.

He noted that the recovery of the cash and voter registers were pointers toward severe electoral offenses and criminality. 

Ojelabi said the command was investigating the suspects for Bribery of Voters (Vote Buying), Contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, regarding the distribution of financial inducements to influence voting; criminal conspiracy, engaging in an unlawful agreement to commit an offense; harbouring or concealing a wanted criminal, knowingly sheltering a fugitive from justice.

Reassuring the public of the command’s neutrality, Ojelabi said “the Osun State Police Command wishes to emphasise that these are serious allegations with far-reaching implications for public security. 

“No individual, irrespective of social status, political affiliation, or public office, is above the law. Any person found culpable at the conclusion of investigations will be prosecuted.”

The police urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while assuring them of the command’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and credible electoral process in the state.

 …INEC deploys 4,427 BVAS devices

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday disclosed that a total of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices have been customised and deployed for the August 15 governorship election in Osun state.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who disclosed this at a stakeholders forum in Osogbo,  said the decision was part of the Commission’s efforts to strengthen its technological safeguards to protect the sanctity of the election. 

He said the distribution includes 664 dedicated backup units, representing a 15% operational reserve, stationed at RAC levels with specialised RACTECH officers to resolve hardware glitches instantly.

Amupitan also assured that the Commission “is logistically, technologically, and operationally prepared to deliver an election that fully satisfies the standards of the Electoral Act 2026 and our published Election Regulations and Guidelines.” 

He said, “for this election, the total registered voters are 2,339,233, spread across 30 Local Government Areas, 332 Registration Areas (Wards), and 3,763 Polling Units in the state.” 

 “Fourteen political parties will participate in the contest. As at the close of PVC collection yesterday (Tuesday), a total of 322,822, representing 62% of the newly registered voters, had collected their PVCs. 

“The Commission has reviewed this development and, in the interest of inclusivity, decided to extend the collection till Friday, 31st July 2026 to enable those who have been unable to collect their PVCs to do so. 

“This is to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised. We have contacted security agencies and will request the ICEES to ensure massive deployment of patrol vehicles around the venue of the collection centres. Those concerned should take advantage of this window and collect their PVCs,” Amupitan said.

He disclosed that the Commission will be conducting a Mock Accreditation across 12 selected local government areas in the state – four per each Senatorial zone, on Saturday, 1st August.

The selected LGAs, according to INEC, are Osun Central- Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun and Boripe LGAs; Osun East- Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Oriade and Obokun LGAs; and in Osun West, we have Egbedore, Ede North, Ede South and Ejigbo LGAs. 

He reassured the electorate that stolen PVCs cannot accredit anyone to vote.

“The serial numbers of the stolen cards can be permanently blacklisted on our central server, and law enforcement agencies are closing in on the perpetrators. 

“I have directed the ICT Director to ensure a reprint of the stolen PVCs and/or ensure that the affected voters are allowed to use the downloadable PVC, which will be available during this election,” Amupitan said.