By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo
The Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, has alleged that 52 persons were arrested at the residence of the lawmaker representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, Ibrahim Inaolaji, describing the incident as an act of intimidation ahead of the Osun governorship election.
Oyewumi made the allegation while addressing journalists at his polling unit, Unit 9, St Peter and Paul/Sumoye Primary School, Ikire, on Saturday.
He said about 24 police officers allegedly stormed the lawmaker’s residence in the early hours of Saturday, damaged the gate and arrested the occupants, including the Accord Party chairman in the local government.
According to him, the incident was part of what he described as a series of arrests allegedly targeting members and supporters of the Accord Party.
He said, “It is very unfortunate what we witnessed here. The whole drama started at midnight when about 24 policemen stormed the house of our House of Assembly member, Ibrahim Inaolaji.
“The Inaolaji family is a very big family and they reside in Ibadan. Since their son is the Honourable member, they used to come and register in Irewole Local Government.
“They were all around in his house, eating and drinking. The policemen just stormed the house, destroyed the gate and arrested about 52 people there, including the local government chairman of Accord. They are in Osogbo, as we speak.”
Oyewumi also alleged that the Accord Party chairman in Ward 6 and a prominent youth leader had earlier been arrested and taken to Osogbo.
“Four days ago, they arrested the chairman of Accord in Ward 6. Six days ago, they arrested one of our very prominent youth leaders. All those ones are in Osogbo now, languishing there without any reasonable offence, just to make sure that they are not at home during the election,” he alleged.
The former lawmaker further alleged that violence broke out at some polling units in Ikire shortly after voting commenced, accusing suspected thugs of attacking Accord Party agents and voters.
He said the first incident occurred at Orieru Polling Unit in Ward 1, where an Accord Party agent was allegedly attacked and beaten before the assailants moved to other polling units.
Oyewumi alleged that the same group later proceeded to St Joseph Primary School 1 and 2, where another voter was allegedly beaten and taken away on a motorcycle before being returned about 20 minutes later.
He said he had contacted the police and military authorities over the alleged incidents, expressing concern over what he described as the failure of security personnel to prevent the attacks.
The allegations could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
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