The Senior Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Comrade Funmiso Babarinde, has defended the N4.8 million recovered by police during a raid on the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, insisting the money was meant for an empowerment programme and not for vote buying.

Babarinde made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun state while reacting to the controversy surrounding the police operation at the SSG’s residence ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Babarinde alleged that the incident occurred while key political stakeholders were meeting with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Yesterday the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Osun State Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye was with the national chairman of INEC who came to Osun for stakeholder meeting and right there while they were in the stakeholders meeting, police operatives from the state police command went to his house and busted the house and arrested the party canvassers from his local government to Osogbo local,” he said.

According to him, the SSG later drove himself to the police headquarters after receiving information about the raid in an attempt to secure the release of those arrested, only to be detained upon arrival.

“So he drove himself down to the police headquarters to go and ask questions and when he got there they said he’s under arrest and without invitation, without fault he drove himself there to go and to go and see if he can secure the release of all the all his party members and they decided that he’s under arrest right there when he arrived”

Babarinde further disclosed that the police recovered N4.8 million, voters’ registers for Osogbo Local Government, two voter cards, a laptop and a printer from the residence during the operation.

He explained that the voter registers were public documents obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission and were being reproduced for party canvassers who would engage residents across the 15 electoral wards in the local government ahead of the election.

According to him: “They ransacked the SSG house, picked up 4.8 million cash, two voters’ card, INEC voter’s register for Osogbo local government. Osogbo local government has 15 wards so the INEC register for 15 wards. They picked up a laptop and a printer because they were using the printer to print the voter’s registration list that they want to give to all the party canvassers across all the 15 words”

Babarinde said police claimed to have recovered the items during the raid and allegedly informed the party that some individuals they had been searching for were among those arrested at the residence. He said the operation resulted in the arrest of a large number of party members adding that while some of those detained had since been released, others remained in police custody as of Thursday morning.

“These are the evidences that they said they picked up from his house and they said that there are some people that they have been looking for or whatever that they are among the crowd that they arrested because it was crowded. It was not a small arrest. Some of the people were released and some others were detained”

He said the party had consequently concluded plans to stage a peaceful protest and address a press conference to draw public attention to what it described as the unfolding situation in the state.

“They are called party members and then this morning the party is trying to put up a protest and a press conference so that the whole world will know what is going on in Osun”,he added.

Babarinde maintained that the documents recovered during the raid were legitimate campaign materials rather than incriminating evidence. He argued that the voter register is a public document made available by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and said party officials were only reproducing copies for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the governorship election.

“There is nothing illegal about possessing the register because it is a public document released by INEC. They were simply printing copies for canvassers who would embark on house-to-house mobilisation,” he said.

Defending the cash recovered from the SSG’s residence, Babarinde dismissed suggestions that it was intended for vote buying, insisting that the money was earmarked for an empowerment programme for party members. He argued that the amount was not excessive for a government official of the SSG’s rank and maintained that similar empowerment initiatives are routinely undertaken by government officials at different levels.

“Is N4.8 million too much money for a whole Secretary to the State Government? The money was meant for empowerment. If you want to give people N10,000 each, that is what it was meant for. Everybody is doing empowerment—the Federal Government, the First Lady, senators and members of the House of Representatives. Why should it become an offence?,”

Babarinde further questioned the logic behind claims of vote buying, insisting that the people gathered at the SSG’s residence were members of his political party rather than prospective voters being induced.

“If you are going to buy votes, do you buy votes from your own party members? These were his supporters gathered in his house. He is the political leader of his local government and it is normal for party members to meet there,” he added.
Babarinde insisted that no electoral offence had been committed and accused security operatives of misrepresenting legitimate political activities as criminal acts.
The allegations come amid heightened political tension in Osun State as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election.