By Ayodele Oni
Voting commenced early in the ongoing Osun state governorship election, with voters trooping out early to perform their civic duties.
However Accord Party has alleged that some security agencies deployed for the Osun State governorship election are intimidating and arresting its members and supporters, raising concerns over the credibility and peaceful conduct of the poll.
This allegation is coming just as the state police command confirmed the arrest of an Accord Party lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim and 146 suspected mercenaries.
Confirming the arrest on Saturday, the spokesman of the Osun State Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said police operatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Intelligence Response Team carried out the arrest.
The lawmakerwho represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, was said to have allegedly imported the 146 merceneries to the state.
“He was arrested in Ikire for harbouring suspected mercenaries. He was arrested with about 146 people.
“FBI-IRT arrested him. He is in their custody. He was arrested in the early hours of Saturday,” the police spokesman stated.
Footage of the interception showed uniformed police officers interrogating Ibrahim at his residence regarding the presence of the suspected mercenaries.
The lawmaker, when asked in the video, maintained that the individuals gathered were registered voters present to participate in the election.
“They are voters for the election happening today. 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,” Ibrahim said.
Accord party’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, made the allegation on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at Ward 3, Unit 4, Ijebu-Jesha, in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of the state
Olajengbesi alleged that some military personnel had, since the early hours of Saturday, embarked on arrests across parts of the state, including the detention of individuals associated with the political process.
The Spokesman said the allegations were particularly disturbing because of the respect traditionally accorded the Nigerian military, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrests had led the party to suspect that some security personnel might have been compromised.
“The military is an institution that is respected all over the world and the Nigerian military has a lot of respect here. So, we suspect that they must have been compromised somewhere or that something is wrong somewhere.
“We are glad that the election is now ongoing and people are voting. This is my own ward, my unit and my local government, and it has been peaceful so far.
“The security officers have conducted themselves in a very good manner. We are only praying that this process should continue,” he added.
He also disclosed that the party has received reports of an alleged plan to invade certain areas during the voting process, prompting it to alert its members to remain vigilant and protect their polling locations without resorting to violence.
According to him, the Accord Party remained committed to ensuring that voters were allowed to exercise their constitutional rights freely and peacefully.
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