Leadnaija
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 33 people suspected of being brought into Osun State to participate in Saturday’s governorship election, following a police operation at a hotel in Ede.
The suspects were reportedly arrested on Friday night at Babs Hotel, behind the State High Court in Ede, as security agencies intensified operations ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
According to The Guild, the suspects were identified as residents of Ondo and Ekiti states, with police reportedly recovering their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the operation.
Police Investigate Alleged Vote Mobilisation
The arrest reportedly followed intelligence gathered by security operatives deployed to monitor the electoral process in Osun State.
The Guild reported that preliminary interrogation allegedly indicated that the suspects had been brought into the state ahead of the election and were allegedly promised payment for voting in particular polling units.
The publication identified a person it described as an Accord Party member, Muftau Abdulkareem, as the alleged person who recruited the suspects.
However, the allegations have not been established in court, and it remains for investigators to determine whether the suspects actually intended to commit electoral offences.
33 PVCs Reportedly Recovered
A senior police officer reportedly said 33 PVCs were recovered from the suspects and had been marked as exhibits.
According to the report, the suspects are expected to face legal proceedings after the electoral process.
Video footage released in connection with the arrest shows some of the detained individuals speaking to police officers and appealing for their release.
One of the suspects reportedly claimed he travelled to Osun after receiving assurances from the person who allegedly recruited them.
Another elderly suspect reportedly told investigators that he was unaware of the legal implications of the alleged arrangement.
Accord Party Link Yet to Be Established
The allegations have generated political attention because they involve claims of organised voter mobilisation ahead of a closely contested governorship election.
However, LeadNaija News cannot independently establish from the available evidence that the Accord Party as an organisation authorised or coordinated the alleged movement of the 33 people, nor that Governor Ademola Adeleke personally had any involvement.
Efforts by The Guild to obtain a response from the person it identified in connection with the allegations were reportedly unsuccessful.
The suspects remain suspected electoral offenders, and any allegations against them or political actors involved will have to be established through investigation and the judicial process.
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