He alleged that about 24 police officers stormed Inaolaji’s residence in the early hours of Saturday, damaged the gate and arrested those inside, including the Accord Party chairman in Irewole Local Government Area.
The Director-General (DG) of the Imole Campaign Council, Lere Oyewumi, has alleged that 52 people were arrested at the residence of the lawmaker representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Inaolaji.
He alleged that about 24 police officers stormed Inaolaji’s residence in the early hours of Saturday, damaged the gate and arrested those inside, including the Accord Party chairman in Irewole Local Government Area.
According to him, the arrests were part of what he described as a pattern of intimidation targeting members and supporters of the Accord Party ahead of the election.
“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,” Mr Oyewumi said.
He noted that members of the Inaolaji family, who he claimed had travelled from Ibadan to Ikire, were at the residence when the police arrived.
“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,” he alleged.
Mr Oyewumi also alleged that the Accord Party chairman in Ward 6 and a youth leader had been arrested days before the election 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 stated.
The former lawmaker further alleged that violence broke out at some polling units in Ikire shortly after voting began.
He alleged that an Accord Party agent was attacked at Orieru Polling Unit in Ward 1, after which the attackers moved to other polling units.
According to him, another voter was allegedly beaten and taken away on a motorcycle at St Joseph Primary School 1 and 2 before being returned about 20 minutes later.
Mr Oyewumi said he had contacted the police and military authorities over the alleged incidents, expressing concern about the security situation in the area.
The allegations could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
The police have yet to speak publicly on the matter.
