The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly found at his residence in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday during a police operation carried out as part of heightened security measures for the ongoing Osun governorship election.

According to the police, no fewer than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were recovered during the operation.

A video clip obtained following the arrest showed the lawmaker making a preliminary statement in which he identified himself and allegedly said he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects from neighbouring states into Osun.

The suspects were allegedly brought into the state to participate in the governorship election.

However, the allegations against the lawmaker and the suspects remain subject to investigation, and no court has established their guilt.

Confirming the arrest, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Inaolaji was apprehended in the early hours of Saturday.

Ojelabi said the operation was conducted by the FBI IRT as part of the command’s intensified efforts to prevent activities capable of compromising the credibility and peaceful conduct of the election.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the presence of the suspects at the lawmaker’s residence and the alleged possession and mobilisation of voters’ cards.

33 Suspected Electoral Mercenaries Arrested in Ede

In a separate operation in Ede, police operatives arrested 33 other suspected electoral mercenaries at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court.

The suspects comprised 30 males and three females and were apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

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

Four Permanent Voter Cards were reportedly recovered from the suspects and taken as exhibits.

The police said some of the suspects, during preliminary questioning, claimed that an unidentified politician had recruited them and promised to pay them in exchange for voting during the election.

The command said further investigation would be conducted to establish the identity of the alleged recruiter, determine the specific roles of those involved and uncover the full circumstances surrounding the movement of the suspects into the state.

The arrests come as security agencies intensify surveillance and enforcement operations across Osun State to prevent electoral offences, voter inducement, violence and other activities capable of undermining the integrity of the governorship election.

The police have also urged residents and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the relevant security authorities as voting continues across the state.