Tension has escalated in Osun State ahead of the governorship election as police arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaiye, and five other individuals during a raid on his residence in Osogbo.
The Osun State Police Command reported recovering N4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register for wards 1-15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, and a printer from the premises. Authorities suspect the items may be linked to electoral offences, including possible vote-buying.
Among those arrested alongside Igbalaiye (47) were Akande Taiwo (60), Oladele Abiodun (38, a suspect on the police watchlist), Adeyemo Lukman (45), Olaoye Muftau (50), and Aderemi Musliu (40). Police described the operation as intelligence-driven, targeting suspected criminal activity at the location.
The command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that investigations are ongoing into potential offences such as voter bribery under the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, and harbouring a wanted suspect. The
