No fewer than 143 persons suspected of being electoral mercenaries have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command at the residence of a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.
Inaolaji, who represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was also arrested during the police operation on Friday night, while more than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were reportedly recovered.
In a video clip, the lawmaker identified himself and allegedly stated that he facilitated the movement of the 143 suspects into Osun State from neighbouring states to participate in the governorship election.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were recruited from Ondo to Osun State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.
Some of them allegedly told investigators that a The suspects reportedly told investigators that they were recruited by a yet-to-be-identified politician, who allegedly facilitated the procurement of voters’ cards for them and instructed them to vote in exchange for financial rewards.
Confirming the arrest, Abiodun Ojelabi, the Police Public Relations Officer, said investigations had commenced to identify other persons allegedly involved in the operation.
He said the investigation would seek to establish the full extent of the alleged network and apprehend other accomplices still at large, particularly those linked to the alleged recruitment of electoral mercenaries, voter inducement and other related offences.