Osun Poll: Tension Rises as Police Arrest SSG Over Alleged Possession of PVCs, Voter Register

Political tensions appear to be rising ahead of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election following the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, over the alleged unlawful possession of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register and N4.81 million.

The development, which has sparked a war of words between the police and the Osun State Government, is already being viewed through the lens of the impending governorship poll, with the state government alleging political persecution while the police insist the operation was intelligence-driven.

The Osun State Police Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the arrest followed credible intelligence that members of a criminal gang were hiding in the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.

According to the command, operatives raided a residence linked to the SSG after receiving information that a wanted suspect, Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as "Ashipa," was hiding there.

The police said the operation led to the arrest of six persons, including Igbalaye, and the recovery of a cash sum of N4,810,500, one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.

"These exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation," Ojelabi said.

He added that those arrested include Hon. Igbalaye Teslim, 47; Akande Taiwo, 60; Oladele Abiodun, 38; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.

According to the police, the recovery of the cash and electoral materials raises concerns over possible electoral offences and other criminal activities, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The Osun State Government, however, rejected the police account, describing the arrest as a fresh case of targeted harassment against senior government officials and members of the Accord Party.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said the SSG was attending a stakeholders' forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when security operatives raided his residence.

He explained that ward officials were holding a meeting within the premises at the time of the operation and insisted that the arrest was politically motivated.

Alimi called on traditional rulers, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that the incident could further heighten political tension ahead of the governorship election.

While the state government maintains that the arrests are part of a campaign of intimidation, the police insist the operation was based on actionable intelligence and that the recovered items will be subjected to forensic examination as investigations continue.