Adeleke Camp Cries Foul As Police Arrest Osun SSG

The Osun State Government has reacted angrily after the police arrested Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five others over allegations of vote buying and possession of electoral materials ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The Osun State Police Command said the suspects were arrested during an operation at a residence linked to the SSG in Osogbo, where operatives recovered N4.8 million cash, voter cards, voter registers and other items suspected to be connected with electoral offences.

According to the police, the operation followed intelligence on the activities of a suspected criminal gang allegedly operating around the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo, leading officers to the location where they also arrested a suspect identified as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa”, who was described as being on the police watchlist over alleged serious crimes including murder.

The command said items recovered during the operation included N4,810,500 cash, a laptop, photocopy machine, printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and voter registers covering Wards 1 to 15.

Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said the recovered items had been secured for forensic examination and further investigation, adding that the suspects were being investigated for alleged bribery of voters, criminal conspiracy and harbouring or concealing a wanted suspect.

The police maintained that no individual, regardless of political status or public office, was above the law, insisting that anyone found culpable after investigation would face prosecution.

However, the Osun State Government has condemned the arrest, alleging that the police operation was politically motivated and targeted at officials of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, accused security operatives of invading the residences of government officials without proper search warrants, describing the action as an attack on the state government.

Alimi claimed that the SSG was not at the residence during the operation because he was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting, while ward officials were holding a meeting at the premises.

The government further alleged that similar actions had been carried out against other officials, including commissioners, and called on relevant authorities to intervene over what it described as escalating political tension ahead of the election.

The controversy comes as political activities intensify ahead of the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 15, with the ruling camp and opposition parties already trading accusations over the conduct of the polls.

The police said investigations into the matter were ongoing, while the Adeleke administration continues to demand transparency over the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the SSG and other government officials.

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