The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) on Thursday accused the Osun State Police Command of attempting to influence the August 15 governorship election through the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, and five others.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the campaign council described the raid on the SSG’s residence and the arrests as “a reckless abuse of authority” and an attempt to influence the governorship election.
TICC rejected the police’s claim that the N4.81 million recovered during the operation was evidence of vote-buying, arguing that possession of cash weeks before an election is not an offence under the Electoral Act and that the amount is below the threshold prescribed by the Money Laundering Act for individuals.
The council also accused the police of selective enforcement, alleging that the command failed to act against individuals it described as APC supporters linked to the theft of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Akarabata in Ile-Ife.
“We make bold to say that there is no legal restriction to holding N4.8 million in cash, being the amount reportedly found in the home of Alhaji Igbalaye. Even if we go by the Money Laundering Act, the N4.8 million is still below the N5 million threshold set for an individual. As such, we consider the issue being raised by the police as nothing but political rhetoric to cover up a brazen act of lawlessness by the Osun State Police Command,” the statement said.
It added that the money was meant for the logistics of Accord Party mobilisers, while the voters’ register recovered by the police was public information available to all 14 political parties participating in the election.
The campaign council called for the immediate release of Igbalaye and the other detained suspects and urged the Nigeria Police Force to remain neutral in the electoral process.
It also asked the police to confine its role to law enforcement and avoid actions capable of undermining public confidence in the election.
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