Security agents apprehended officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state branch and two INEC staff members at an unidentified hotel in Ogun State’s Iperu-Remo area, allegedly with a large sum of money in their possession.
The politicians and INEC officials, who were shown being questioned in a video clip released on social media on Saturday, were allegedly apprehended at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State.
In the viral video, INEC officials (a male and a female) and PDP officers are seen squatting and being quizzed by an unidentified male security personnel.
According to the interrogator, an intelligence report showed that party leaders contacted INEC officials and paid them a considerable sum of money for alleged vote buying during the by-election.
He stated that the arrest of electoral officials resulted in the arrest of PDP officers at a hotel in Iperu-Remo.
The male INEC officer informed the interrogator that his boss asked him to go collect the cash from the politicians.
Meanwhile, one of the PDP members, who identified himself as a “PDP official in Ogun State” in the video, was heard denying involvement in the alleged cash-for-vote episode.
He said, “You are just showing money; I don’t know anything about it.”
However, the PDP has described the arrest as a ploy to intimidate and disenfranchise its members ahead of the by-election.
Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, the party’s Director of Media and Communications, stated in a statement to reporters that the party officer was arrested around 3:30 a.m. by security agents who allegedly broke into his hotel room in what he described as a “commando-style operation”.
According to him, the PDP officer was in his hotel room relaxing with his driver and an assistant when he was taken away.
Bankole claimed that, contrary to claims, no electoral documents were discovered in his hands, nor was he apprehended with substantial sums of money.
His words, “He had only ₦100,000 in his room. No electoral material was discovered in his hotel room or car.
“It is part of a grand plan to scare our people and disenfranchise them. This is unfortunate and shameful in a democracy.”
He also distanced the arrested member from the arrest of two INEC officials and others who were allegedly apprehended with large amounts of cash in the area.
“He does not know the INEC staff arrested. It is practically impossible for him to lodge in the same hotel room with an INEC official.
“He was only carrying out his responsibility as the state officer of the party under whose watch this election is being conducted,” Bankole added.
While asserting that the detention was politically motivated, the party urged appropriate authorities to ensure the prompt release of its chairman, stressing that attempts to silence opposition voices during the election would not be tolerated.
The State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, stated that the command is investigating the alleged arrest of Tella and two INEC personnel with large sums of money suspected of being used for vote buying in the ongoing Remo Federal Constituency by-election.
Ogunlowo said, “We are investigating the matter. That’s how much I can say for now.
“You may please call back later in the day for further information.”
