Osun Election: Accord Lawmaker Arrested With 146 Suspected Mercenaries in Ikire

Police operatives have arrested Abiola Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing the Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, after about 146 people were reportedly found at a private residence in Ikire on election day.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the Accord Party, was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Response Team (FBI-IRT) in the early hours of Saturday.The police alleged that Ibrahim was harbouring suspected mercenaries at the residence.

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest in a telephone interview, saying the lawmaker was taken into custody alongside about 146 people found at the location.

“He was arrested in Ikire for harbouring suspected mercenaries. He was arrested with about 146 people.”Ojelabi added that the lawmaker remained in the custody of the FBI-IRT following the arrest.

The development followed the circulation of a video showing police officers confronting Ibrahim at the residence over the presence of the large group of people gathered there on the day of the governorship election.

However, Ibrahim disputed the allegation that the individuals were hired or brought in as mercenaries. When questioned by the officers, he maintained that they were voters who had gathered to participate in the election.

“They are voters for the election happening today,” Ibrahim said.

He further explained that some of those present were indigenes from other areas and insisted that he had neither hired them nor promised them anything in exchange for their participation.

“Some of them are, some of them are indigenes from outside. I did not hire them. I did not promise anything. Voting is their choice. I’m not their agent,” he said.The arrest has added another dramatic twist to the already closely watched Osun governorship election, with the circumstances surrounding the presence of the 146 individuals expected to come under further investigation.