Osun Election: Voting was reportedly disrupted at former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s polling unit on Saturday as suspected thugs allegedly invaded the area, while police confirmed the arrest of a serving lawmaker and 146 suspected political thugs in Ikire.
Voting was temporarily disrupted at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor and immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during the ongoing Osun State governorship election on Saturday.
The reported incident occurred as voters arrived at polling units across the state to exercise their franchise and elect the governor who will lead Osun State for the next four years.
According to reports from the affected polling unit, suspected thugs allegedly stormed the area, causing tension and forcing some voters to leave temporarily.
The disruption reportedly interrupted the voting process and raised concerns about the safety of voters and election officials.
The identity and political affiliation of the suspected hoodlums were not immediately established.
However, some party agents at the polling unit reportedly alleged that the individuals were affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC agent at the polling unit, Mrs Abogunloko Olufunke, dismissed the allegation, insisting that the suspected thugs were not members of the party known to her.
“Those thugs are not our members. I don’t know them,” she said.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the alleged invasion or whether the incident resulted in injuries, damage to election materials or arrests.
Details of any intervention by security operatives at Aregbesola’s polling unit were also not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.
Police arrest Osun lawmaker, 146 suspected political thugs
The reported disruption occurred against the backdrop of heightened security operations across Osun State as security agencies intensified efforts to prevent violence and other activities capable of undermining the governorship election.
In a separate development, the Osun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of a serving member of the state House of Assembly, Abiola Inaolaji, alongside 146 persons described as suspected political thugs.
The arrests reportedly took place in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, in the early hours of Saturday.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiosun Ojelabi, confirmed the development in Osogbo.
Ojelabi said Inaolaji, who represents the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested during a security operation.
The lawmaker is a member of the Accord Party, the political platform on which Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election.
According to the police spokesman, the operation formed part of intensified security measures designed to prevent activities capable of disrupting the election or compromising its credibility.
He explained that security personnel had been deployed across strategic locations in the state to deter political violence, voter intimidation and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Video shows man allegedly discussing movement of 146 people
The arrest of the 146 suspects also attracted attention following the emergence of a video circulating on social media.
In the video, a man identified as Ibrahim was reportedly seen introducing himself and allegedly speaking about the movement of 146 people into Osun State from neighbouring states.
The man was said to have claimed that he facilitated the movement of the individuals into Osun for the purpose of participating in the governorship election.
The allegation has raised questions about the possible mobilisation of voters from outside the state and the potential implications for the electoral process.
However, the contents of the video could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
It was also unclear whether the man in the video was among those arrested by the security agencies or whether his claims directly relate to the 146 persons apprehended in Ikire.
Security tightened across Osun
The incidents occurred as security agencies maintained heightened vigilance across Osun State throughout the election.
The governorship poll has attracted considerable political attention, with Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking another term in office under the Accord Party.
Bola Oyebamiji is contesting the election on the platform of the APC, while Najeem Salaam is the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
With voting taking place across the state, security personnel have been tasked with ensuring that voters can cast their ballots without intimidation, violence or interference.
The reported incident at Aregbesola’s polling unit and the arrests in Ikire have therefore become significant developments in the unfolding election.
Authorities are expected to investigate the allegations surrounding the reported disruption and provide further clarification on the circumstances that led to the arrest of the lawmaker and the 146 suspects.
The identities of the other arrested persons, the specific allegations against them and whether they will face prosecution are also expected to become clearer as police investigations continue.
For voters, political parties and election observers, the priority remains the peaceful completion of the electoral process and the protection of the integrity of the votes cast across Osun State.
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