Osun SSG Teslim Igbalaye Arrested Over Vote-Buying Allegations in Nigeria

• The Osun State Police Command arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five others on Wednesday for alleged vote-buying.
• A cash of N4.8 million and other 'exhibits' were recovered during the raid on Mr Igbalaye's residence in Osogbo.
• The police have accused them of violating Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits vote-buying.
• The Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its commitment to enforcing electoral laws without fear or favour.

The police have taken these items for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.

The arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five others by the Osun State Police Command has heightened concerns over vote-buying ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The police operation was carried out on Wednesday after receiving intelligence reports on alleged electoral offences. According to the police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, a cash of N4.8 million and other 'exhibits' were recovered during the raid on Mr Igbalaye's residence in Osogbo. These items include a Dynabook laptop, a photocopying machine, a printer, two voter cards, and a voter register covering Wards 1-15 in Osogbo Local Government Area. The police have taken these items for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.

The arrest of the SSG and others is linked to alleged violations of Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits vote-buying. The police have also accused them of criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect. This development comes as concerns over electoral violence and vote-buying continue to dominate the political atmosphere in Osun State. The Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its commitment to enforcing electoral laws without fear or favour, urging residents to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies throughout the election period.

The Osun State Government has condemned the police operation, describing it as a major threat to free and fair election in the state. The government alleged that Mr Igbalaye was not at home when the operation was carried out, explaining that he was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders' meeting at the time. The government further accused security operatives of ransacking the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire a day earlier and destroying property. This has sparked concerns over the role of security agencies in maintaining a free and fair electoral process.

Lawyers should watch for the implications of this development on electoral law enforcement in Nigeria, particularly with regards to vote-buying and the role of security agencies in maintaining a free and fair electoral process.

Source: Original reporting via Osun State Government