Police release Osun SSG after controversial arrest

Osun State police have released the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, following his controversial arrest on allegations of vote-buying. Igbalaye and five others were detained on Wednesday, just 17 days before the state's governorship election, intensifying concerns about the partisanship of security agencies during electoral periods. The SSG's release was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who characterized the arrest as unlawful. Olajengbesi commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for their decision to "listen to the voice of reason." The Senior Special Assistant on Media Monitoring to the Osun State Governor, Abdul-Jeleel Samakin, also confirmed the release. Police had not issued an official statement explaining the circumstances of the release by the time of reporting, and attempts to get a comment from the Osun State Commissioner of Police were unsuccessful. Earlier, the Osun State Police Command reported arresting Igbalaye and five others at his Osogbo residence over alleged vote merchandising. Operatives claimed to have recovered N4.8 million in cash, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), voter registers, a laptop, photocopying machines, and a printer. The command also alleged that one of the arrested individuals was a wanted murder suspect and claimed preliminary findings pointed to vote buying, criminal conspiracy, and harboring a wanted criminal, without providing proof. The Osun State Government condemned the operation, asserting that ward officials were holding a political meeting at the residence while the SSG attended an election stakeholders' forum. The government accused the police of targeting senior officials ahead of the governorship election.

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We sincerely appreciate the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, for listening to the voice of reason despite pressure and for responding to the people’s demand regarding the unlawful arrest of the Secretary to the State Government.